Following how well he played this time around last summer, Jordan Miller had the LA Clippers thinking they struck gold by drafting him. He carried himself with infectious energy on the floor and proved that he had been watching film on the best talents in basketball by applying what he learned to his game.
Furthermore, the Clippers’ front office felt that they had seen enough from Miller, given that he was constantly ascending, and made his NBA contract official. This news came on the first day of March, the luckiest of months, after the Miami product efficiently scored over ten times, including a career-high 15 points in 20 minutes, shooting 7-10, against the Washington Wizards.
Once the rotation was healthy, Miller’s opportunity had vanished. He was not given many minutes by head coach Tyronn Lue for the rest of the season, forcing the front office to waive him at the earliest convenience.
However, the front office chose to keep Kobe Brown over Miller, a power forward drafted in the same class. This seemed to be a puzzling move, but last night’s summer league showdown against the Houston Rockets proved how the Clippers were right in their selection of the two.
The first summer league game, especially the first half, explained why the LA Clippers waived Jordan Miller
In a low-scoring game, where neither team reached 100 points, Jordan Miller, the rising talent recently waived by the LA Clippers, posted a double-double. He recorded 23 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes, leading the squad in both.
This stat line raises the doubt that LA made a regretful decision regarding Miller’s future. He can clearly score the ball at a high rate, and with more wins, could become the NBA Summer League MVP.
Conversely, this belief is wrong, as Miller’s points and rebounds may appeal, but his first-half numbers and overall film prove the Clippers right. He struggled in the game’s first 20 minutes of action with missed shots and reckless penalties.
On the night, he shot 7-18, which is below 40%, and in the first half, Miller went 1-6 (0-3 from three). He also finished with three turnovers and five fouls, five away from being tossed out of the game, given the NBA’s generous grace of ten.
That said, Kobe Brown played a better game in fewer minutes, displaying why the Clippers were right to pick him over Miller after the first summer league game of 2025.