The LA Clippers continue to win basketball games in spite of their best player not playing a single minute so far this season. Many believed that Kawhi Leonard being out would severely hinder this team and put them in the gutter of the Western Conference.
But the Clippers have rallied together and bought into a team-first and "next man up" mentality. No one wants to be the star, everyone only wants to win games. That collective humility has helped LA establish one of the best team defenses in the association, stifling opponents and lifting them to an 11-8 record through 19 games this season.
Tyronn Lue has played eight guys on the roster in all 19 games so far, and he has handed out 20 minutes or more per night to seven players. He clearly has been open to playing a lot of different guys and trying different lineups, and one player who has seen a big jump in playing time recently is Jordan Miller.
The 2023 second-round pick out of the University of Miami, Miller only played in eight games during his rookie year, but has already appeared in that many contests through one month of the current season. Headed into training camp, it was uncertain if Miller would have a role on this team, but things are slowly starting to change.
Jordan Miller — a good basketball player pic.twitter.com/Pe1Cngqs8p
— Dan Olinger (@dan_olinger) November 24, 2024
Miller deserves a spot in the rotation
Still playing on a two-way contract, many thought it possible that Miller could spend a large part of his season in the G League once again. But now, he could be angling toward getting his contract converted to a full-time deal. Jordan has been earning more consistent minutes, indicating the coaching staff's trust in him.
Against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, Miller played a career-high 23 minutes and knocked down three of his six shot attempts while logging four rebounds and three assists as well. He scored all seven of his points in a span of just three minutes of action. The next night against Boston, Jordan scored 10 points and looked more than capable against the defending NBA champions.
With Norman Powell and Kawhi Leonard still out of the rotation, having guys that can step up and contribute has been massive for this Clippers team. Miller fits the archetype of a prototypical three-and-D player, and he has proven that he can hang with the big dogs in the NBA. The more the coaching staff can continue to incorporate him now, the more ready he will be to play in pressure situations down the line.