The hypotheticals surrounding the LA Clippers drafting Ryan Nembhard in the second round over Kobe Sanders are evident and valid, and this was proven in his summer league debut for the Dallas Mavericks. Yet, Sanders had still been unproven with an inevitable opportunity in game one versus the Houston Rockets.
Sanders, just like another rising star in Trentyn Flowers, came off the bench, but his minute count of 14 was underwhelming, even though he was making an impact. In his debut, the five-year collegiate point guard, who last finished at Nevada, posted ten points, shooting 4-9 from the field with two made baskets from beyond the arc.
This was a superb start for the rookie, showing summer league head coach Jeremy Castleberry that playing him more will automatically produce positive metrics, leading to more wins. Castleberry clearly took note and increased his minutes to 18 in game two. This battle against the Milwaukee Bucks concluded in yet another win, marking two in a row, where Sanders had a +/- of +6.
His scoring and efficiency contributed to his noteworthy presence, as he scored 13 points, shooting 5-10 from the floor, made a three-pointer, and drilled two free throws.
These two performances are starting to gain value, and the NBA community will eventually learn Sanders' name, as he already appears to be one of the best picks of the second round, justifying why the Clippers chose him over Nembhard.
Kobe Sanders' scoring at his size is appealing, which should quiet the doubts around the LA Clippers' unproven future
The LA Clippers likely scouted Ryan Nembhard, but they weighed the size difference between him and Kobe Sanders as guards and made the safer choice. This pick occurred because the Clippers traded up for Sanders, as they did not want the New York Knicks to snag him at 50.
There are not many six-foot-nine dual-threat point guards in the NBA, especially in this class with sufficient collegiate experience, showing that executive Lawrence Frank saw something special in the Nevada product. He has the size to be a great fit under Tyronn Lue, and so far, he is proving the front office right for their pick.
Over time, with a level of development he is bound to receive in the G-League, Sanders could pan out. There is still time left in the summer league, and two games are an extremely small sample size, but Clipper Nation must remain calm as the team's future could be in good hands with the rookie.