Rookie guard Kobe Sanders made his first career NBA start on Monday night, and while the Los Angeles Clippers fell short against the Philadelphia 76ers 110-108, the young player showed exactly why the coaching staff trusted him with the opportunity.

Nathan Grubel (@DraftDeeper) on X Very nice to see Kobe Sanders getting run last two games for the LA Clippers. 17 points for the jumbo wing last night against the 76ers in a scaled-down offensive role compared to the heavy pick-and-roll diet he ran last year at Nevada. Size, skill, shooting never fails!

Sanders finished with a career-high 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including three three-pointers, and played a team-high 30 minutes in what was an impressive showing for the second-round pick.

After the game, Sanders reflected on the confidence his teammates and coaches have given him during his early-season opportunities. "The biggest thing is trying to get a win no matter who's in the lineup, who's healthy," Sanders said. "We're trying to find a win. As a rookie, getting my first start, just the confidence that everyone instills in me from the top down. To coaches to the players. Everybody is instilling a lot of confidence in me."

Stepping Up When Needed

The 23-year-old out of Nevada earned his starting spot after Derrick Jones Jr. suffered a sprained MCL in Sunday's loss to Boston, an injury that will sideline him for approximately six weeks.

Sanders has been part of the Clippers' rotation for most of the season, averaging 5.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across his first five games before Monday's breakout performance.

Sanders' recent play has been steady and impressive for a rookie still finding his footing in the league.

clippa twitta (@clipfullyloaded) on X Kobe Sanders since entering the rotation: (4 games) 10.0 PTS (43/40/86) 2.3 REB 1.8 AST 0.5 STL 50th pick in the 2025 NBA draft🔥

In Sunday's game against the Celtics, he contributed 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 23 minutes off the bench, showing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways and earning more trust from head coach Tyronn Lue.

Monday's performance against Philadelphia was another step forward, with Sanders making all four of his free throws and adding one rebound, one assist, and one steal while playing solid defense throughout the night.

He made a pair of clutch free throws with 13.8 seconds remaining to pull the Clippers within two points at 110-108, giving his team a chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds.

Looking Ahead to Orlando

The Clippers (4-10) are struggling through a difficult stretch, having now lost eight of their last nine games and sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

The team continues to deal with major injury issues, with Kawhi Leonard missing his seventh straight game due to ankle and foot sprains, while Jones' absence adds another blow to an already thin rotation.

Law Murray ⛲️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) on X Tyronn Lue last night in Philadelphia on: - his defense's effectiveness based on "attention to detail" - Kobe Sanders - approach to rest of road trip with two days off

LA will need Sanders and the rest of their young players to continue stepping up as they travel to face the Orlando Magic (7-7) on Wednesday night.

The Magic are coming off a loss to the Houston Rockets but remain competitive in the Eastern Conference playoff race. For the Clippers to get back on track and snap their current losing streak, they'll need Sanders to build on his strong first start and the team's veterans like James Harden and Ivica Zubac to lead the way.

The confidence Sanders spoke about after Monday's game will be crucial as the Clippers try to turn their season around, and his willingness to focus on winning above all else shows the right mentality for a young player thrust into a bigger role.