All offseason, after the LA Clippers picked up the team option on Brook Lopez, everyone and their mother expected him to start. Why? Because we know head coach Tyronn Lue loves playing veterans, and on top of that, Lopez has extensive experiencet that could really help the locker room, can space the floor at a high level, and thrives at protecting the rim. However, training camp began, and Lue shocked everyone by benching the 38-year-old and starting Isaiah Jackson.
This is the first unit the Clippers have been using in camp so far:
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) October 1, 2026
Darius Garland
Max Strus
Derrick Jones Jr.
Rui Hachimura
Isaiah Jackson
Brook Lopez has been with the second group, but Ty Lue said things will change. pic.twitter.com/ZcrQEzf5cO
In doing so, Lue said changes are coming, meaning Lopez will soon have an opportunity to be in the starting five. Between now and then, though, Lue will come to the key realization that Jackson is ultimately a better choice, at least until Yanic Konan Niederhauser returns from the Lisfranc injury he suffered in the middle of last season.
Ty Lue will realize Isaiah Jackson is a better choice to start than Brook Lopez
Brook Lopez’s only serious advantage over Isaiah Jackson as a better fit in the starting five is the fact that he can shoot. A floor-spacing center isn't extremely common in the league, and guys like Darius Garland, Brandon Ingram (when he returns to the court), and Keaton Wagler could really make the most of it.
Outside of that, and maybe being a better rim protector, even though Jackson is still good at defending the paint, Lopez doesn’t do anything else better.
Most importantly, he struggles on the boards. Yes, a seven-foot-one center has a flaw in crashing the glass, and the numbers back it up, as he averaged just 3.6 boards in 75 games last season. A lack of minutes is not really an excuse, given Lopez played 21.8 per game.
In addition, Lopez is slow on the court. This isn't just a pace issue; opponents can easily exploit it with simple strategies.
Meanwhile, Jackson is a rock-solid defender, hustles on both sides of the ball, is a significantly better rebounder, and is an actual lob threat, which Lopez can’t offer.
In 15.9 minutes, across 17 games for the Clippers last season, Jackson proved it. He averaged 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 76.4% from the field.
Ultimately, when considering every factor, Jackson is the guy to go with to start the season out. Lue will eventually realize this, and from the outside looking in, it’s an amazing sign that he began training camp with the 24-year-old first.
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