Barring any additions before the regular season starts, the only real power forward in the LA Clippers' rotation is Rui Hachimura. Last year’s backup, Nicolas Batum, announced his retirement over the summer. So, who were the Clippers going to look to? Kobe Sanders, a player drafted as a guard but who has the size to play virtually any position except center.
At six-foot-eight and 208 pounds, Sanders’ first chance to show he can be Hachimura’s backup was the preseason, when the Clippers had nothing to lose. The main areas they would be looking at are rebounding and defense. Unfortunately, the evaluation is on pause until hopefully Oct. 10th versus the Toronto Raptors, as the rising sophomore is injured with hip impingement.
For what it’s worth, Sanders appeared to be just fine during the Clippers’ media day. That must mean the injury occurred during training camp.
If Kobe Sanders returns vs. Toronto, the Clippers will be evaluating him then
At the moment, no timetable has been provided for when Kobe Sanders will return to the basketball court. However, the expectation is that it’s day-to-day, as Ohm Youngmisuk reported to X (formerly Twitter) that Sanders “will do individual work but will not participate in Saturday’s practice.” This is a good sign.
Kobe Sanders will not play in Sunday’s preseason opener against Golden State due to left hip impingement. Sanders will do individual work but will not participate in Saturday’s practice.
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) October 3, 2026
That said, if Sanders returns in the Clippers’ second preseason game against the Toronto Raptors, the coaching staff will evaluate his abilities as the backup power forward then.
On the offensive side of the ball, there is no doubt he’ll excel at the four-spot. Why? Because Sanders is an elite three-point shooter. He shot 40.8% from beyond the arc throughout 2025-26 on nearly three attempts per game, and he also attacked close-outs, created space in the mid-range, and scored at the iron look relatively easy despite being a rookie.
Defensively, though, questions remain. Sanders can hold his own on that side of the ball, but he’s never played meaningful minutes at power forward in his career.
The 24-year-old also averaged just 2.3 rebounds last season. This cannot happen if he’s the guy head coach Tyronn Lue will be resorting to relieve Rui Hachimura, who isn’t great on the glass either.
If Sanders defends well and proves he can box out effectively, the Clippers can breathe a sigh of relief. If not, the front office will have to scramble fast to find an inexpensive addition to the roster before opening night arrives.
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