The 2025-26 season has not been kind to the Los Angeles Clippers, especially through the first 14 games. Injuries have already started to pile up, with Bradley Beal having been ruled out for the season and Kawhi Leonard, Jordan Miller, and Derrick Jones Jr. all on the injury report. Sitting with a 4-10 record, there's no benefit for the Clippers in losing games without their draft pick.

Typically, Clippers coach Ty Lue has not played younger players on the roster, opting to play veteran, experienced talent instead. However, the injuries have forced his hand and made way for 2025 50th overall pick Kobe Sanders to be inserted into the starting lineup.

Sanders Earns Praise From James Harden

Sanders logged his first career start in the team's controversial 110-108 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, where James Harden failed to receive a foul call on his game-winning shot attempt. Regardless, Sanders played in 30 minutes and scored a career-high 17 points. After the game, Harden had some words for the 23-year-old rookie.

"He's building confidence in himself. That allows me to help him. Shooting the basketball, being aggressive defensively, [and] attacking the rim. He's a young kid, but he's very experienced and mature," Harden said.

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🔥

Sanders spent five years playing college basketball, with his first four years being with Cal Poly. He'd get up to 19.6 points per game in his fourth season there, before transferring to play his final season with the Nevada Wolfpack. He'd earn All-Mountain West Conference honors in his one season there before being drafted 50th by the Clippers in 2025.

Even though Sanders is getting this opportunity due to injuries on the roster, he could be earning himself a spot in the rotation if he continues this level of play. As mentioned, the Clippers get nothing this season out of tanking without their first-round pick, so the priority for Lue and the Clippers is putting the best team out on the court every night to win.

Grant "Money" Mona (@Gmona48) on X Kobe Sanders in his first start in the NBA: 30 minutes 17 points 5/11 from the field. 3/7 from three. Was extremely solid despite the loss to drop the Clippers to 4-10.

Looking ahead for the Clippers, Sanders will look to build off his career-best performance on Thursday against the Orlando Magic, who are fresh off a win against the Golden State Warriors. The odds certainly won't be in the Clippers' favor, but if Harden can continue to play at a high level and players like Sanders can contribute around him, they could pull off the upset.

Regardless, Sanders is still very early in his NBA career, and the team and fans should brace for the growing pains of adjusting to playing basketball at the highest level.