Despite having a college film that supported him being taken by the LA Clippers in the first round, or even higher by another team, 2025 30th overall pick Yanic Konan Niederhauser presented a blend of worry and promise in the first summer league run of his career. He had flashy dunks and highlight-worthy blocks, but with the unusually high amount of college experience he has, there is no excuse for Niederhauser to be as shaky as he was.
However, it is summer league in the end, and a few games against other youngsters are far too early to make an accurate prediction on where his NBA career is headed, especially considering it just began in June.
Furthermore, one way for NBA draft experts to provide context on specific prospects is by using the floor-ceiling method. This coordinates similarly to what fans want the player to become, as the ceiling, as opposed to the realistic option, the floor.
For Niederhauser, many drew a comparison to Jaxson Hayes, someone who is athletic, can finish in the paint, and will block shots, but is far from an All-Star. This is a solid career, as Hayes has done well for himself in the NBA.
On the contrary, every fan wants Niederhauser to live up to his dream, and his ceiling is the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. Getting close to Gobert, or better, is certainly still a dream following the Clippers’ recent summer league run, but if the work is put in, the Penn State product could reach a status no one currently expects him to come close to.
With the proper work ethic, Yanic Konan Niederhauser could become the NBA’s next Rudy Gobert
Although Yanic Konan Niederhauser is a few inches smaller in size and a few pounds lighter in weight, he matches up relatively well as a player who could become the league’s next Rudy Gobert.
Players like Jaxson Hayes are in the same boat, but if the LA Clippers use Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez to develop Niederhauser on both sides of the ball, the goal of him living up to the player Gobert has made himself is within reach.
That said, the front office should disregard the meaningless criticism surrounding their selection of Niederhauser in the first round, as many argue he was taken too high. Instead, attention should be paid to making him a franchise star, similar to what Gobert has been for the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.