Dunn's all-around play has been a big reason why the Clippers have stayed in the playoff race.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the best stories in the NBA this season, going from a brutal 6-21 start to sitting at 34-33 and fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
A big reason for that turnaround has been the tone that veteran guard Kris Dunn sets every single day, and rookie Kobe Sanders made that point when he talked about what Dunn brings to the group.
"You hear him the second he walks in the building. So, his energy on and off the court always affects us," Sanders said. "So he always brings good energy, always brings leadership, always brings energy on the defensive end. So, it's easy to feed off of him and, you know, that gets us going every game."
Sanders Seeing It Up Close in Year One
For a rookie still learning what it takes to compete at this level, having someone like Dunn in the locker room and on the court every day is huge.
Sanders has shown real flashes this season, averaging 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three, and he has looked even better in 15 starts where he is putting up 10.5 points per game.
The second-round pick out of Nevada has been open about how much his growth has been helped by being around guys like Dunn who bring it every day and never take a play off.
That kind of daily example goes a long way for a young player trying to find his footing, and Sanders sounds like someone who truly understands the value of what he is getting to watch and learn from this season.
Dunn's All-Defense Case Keeps Getting Stronger
What makes Sanders' words carry weight is that he is far from the only person saying them.
Kawhi Leonard made headlines earlier this month when he flat out said that Dunn deserves First Team All-Defense, pointing to his consistency and relentless effort as the reasons why he has been arguably the best perimeter defender in the league this season.
The numbers back it up too, because Dunn is averaging 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, and his defensive rating of 107.1 is easily the best mark of his 10-year career.
He is also the only Clipper who has played in every single game this season, which speaks to both his durability and how much head coach Tyronn Lue values having him out there.
Leonard noted that Dunn may have missed out on the honor last season due to a minutes threshold, but with his role expanding and his play only getting better, that should not be an issue this time around.
The Bigger Picture for the Clippers
The Clippers still have work to do with 15 games left in the regular season and a playoff spot far from locked up in the Western Conference.
But the fact that a rookie like Sanders is already talking about how Dunn's energy gets the whole team going says a lot about the culture that has been built during this turnaround.
Dunn does not need 20 points a night to change a game, because his impact shows up in the hustle plays, the deflections, the vocal leadership and the standard he holds everyone to.
If the Clippers are going to finish this season the way they want to, Kris Dunn's presence on both ends of the floor will be a massive reason why.