Despite the massive controversy involving Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer, the LA Clippers had a successful offseason, and they arguably won the 2025 NBA Draft. They were able to obtain two excellent rookies who can help them now and into the future. In the first round, they obtained Yanic Konan Niederhauser with the 30th overall pick. As for the second round, Los Angeles obtained the 50th overall pick, Kobe Sanders, in a trade with the New York Knicks.
Both rookies certainly showed their promise during their tour at Summer League. Their talent and skills will be of use to an aging Clippers squad that needs an infusion of youth. Let’s dive into the three reasons why the Los Angeles Clippers won the 2025 NBA Draft.
3 Reasons Why The LA Clippers Won The 2025 NBA Draft
#1. Athleticism And Depth In The Middle
One of the major reasons for LA’s success in the 2025 NBA Draft is getting an athletic center like Niederhauser to fill in their depth at the five. Standing at six-foot-eleven barefoot with a seven-foot-three wingspan, Niederhauser is, undoubtedly, one of the most athletic players in this past draft class. He can outrun other centers on the court and throw down mighty dunks in transition, finishing over opposing defenders. Also, his athleticism shows up on the defensive end as well. He was a major shot-blocker at Penn State, where he averaged 2.3 blocks per game last season. Niederhauser fully utilizes his leaping ability and length to swat shots away from the bucket.
With Niederhauser, the Clippers have a fully rounded-out center rotation that includes Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez. Each of them brings something different to the table, and athleticism is what Niederhauser provides. For certain matchups, Niederhauser can give LA athleticism and explosiveness in the middle, which the other two centers cannot provide.
#2. Backup in the Backcourt
While the Clippers added to their center rotation, they also succeeded in getting more depth in the backcourt, adding a six-foot-seven wing in Sanders. With him, LA has a tall, ball-handling wing who excels at being a facilitator out on the court. Not only that, but he is also a solid three-level scorer in his own right. Sanders is great at using the pick-and-roll to find opportunities to score at the basket or in the mid-range. Furthermore, he is great at finding his teammates, using his excellent court vision and passing skills. In terms of his playmaking, Sanders rarely makes mistakes and can pull off a wide variety of different passes.
The Clippers have plenty of offensive initiators like James Harden and Chris Paul. However, given that both guards are on the older side, having more ball-handling and passing depth like Sanders is a good move. Should either player pick up an unexpected injury, Sanders can serve as a stopgap in the meantime.
#3. Ready-Made Talent
The success of this draft for the Clippers comes from many different angles, but one important aspect is that their rookies are more ready to contribute immediately. Both Niederhauser and Sanders are older prospects in this draft class and have multiple years of college experience. They are certainly more developed in terms of their bodies and skills compared to the younger players in the class.
For a Clippers team that is looking to contend this year, having playable rookies is a major get. Both players can step in and play spot minutes for the team when the need arises.
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