Keaton Wagler Speaks on the Value of Playing for Clippers Coach Ty Lue

Shooting guard Keaton Wagler has had a rocky start to his rookie season, but Sunday night gave the Los Angeles Clippers a look at what he can be.

Wagler came off the bench for 15 points in 18 minutes on 4-of-5 shooting with four assists as the Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 139-123 at Intuit Dome.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak and moved Los Angeles to 2-7.

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 draft out of Illinois has not started a game yet, and he is averaging 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 23.2 minutes over nine games.

He is shooting just 34.2% from the field, but he is making 39.0% of his threes, which is a good sign for a 19-year-old.

Wagler recently sat down with HoopsHype and was asked whether head coach Ty Lue, a former point guard, has given him a piece of advice that changed his mind about something.

Wagler said the biggest thing is that Lue is a great defender who has shown him ways to defend better, and on offense Lue has taught him how to get rid of physical defenders who try to get under him.

"So just using what he tells me and trying to use that in games to create advantages," Wagler told HoopsHype.

Teaching like that is a big deal for a young guard still learning how NBA defenders play him, and Lue has liked his poise and ability to make plays since the second game of his career.

The two have already hit one bump.

Wagler played just 16 minutes in the 117-116 overtime loss to the Miami Heat on Nov. 4, and Lue's first answer after that game was that it was just what he felt like.

Before Sunday's game, Lue called that a bad answer and said Wagler should have played more, according to Joey Linn, in an apology that got plenty of attention.

Wagler said after the win that he is not too worried about the minutes and just wants to make an impact however he can.

I like how both sides handled it, since Lue owned his mistake and Wagler made his case on the court.

Guard Darius Garland also had 24 points and 10 assists in the win, and he made a point of praising the young players on this roster afterward.

The Clippers now visit the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at Mortgage Matchup Center, and the Suns come in at 3-6.

On the Clippers' side, forward Brandon Ingram has been ruled out with his Achilles injury and still has not made his season debut, center Yanic Konan Niederhauser is out with a foot injury and guard Cam Christie is questionable with a right ankle sprain.

After Phoenix, the Clippers return home to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday and the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

At 2-7, Los Angeles needs a lot more nights like Sunday from its rookie, and it sounds like he is learning from the right coach.