Sanders stepped up in a big way on Monday night, and he made sure everyone knew he was ready for the moment.
After scoring a career-high 20 points in the Clippers' 103-102 win over the Golden State Warriors, Sanders was asked about his impressive performance.
His answer showed the poise of a player who has been waiting for this opportunity.
"Although I'm a rook, I've played a lot of basketball in my life," Sanders said after the game. "Just playing basketball for such a long time, you pick up IQ, you pick up just little things here and there."
Sanders, who is 23 years old, took a long road to the NBA.
He spent four years at Cal Poly before transferring to Nevada for his fifth season, where he earned All-Mountain West honors.
That experience showed on Monday when he found out just before tip-off that he would be starting in place of James Harden, who was a late scratch due to shoulder soreness.
Stepping Up When It Mattered
With Harden out, the Clippers needed someone to step up alongside Kawhi Leonard and fellow guard Kris Dunn, and Sanders answered the call in a major way.
He played 36 minutes and grabbed seven rebounds while helping contain Stephen Curry, who finished with 27 points but fouled out with 42 seconds left in the game.
Sanders talked about the freedom he felt playing extended minutes without fear of getting pulled for mistakes. "I think I felt that freedom most of the season," he said. "They instill a lot of confidence in me, telling me to be aggressive, telling me to keep going."
Head coach Tyronn Lue praised the rookie's composure and understanding of the game on both ends of the floor.
Teammate John Collins called his performance "big time" and said that while the late start may have surprised Sanders, he did exactly what the team expected him to do.
Building on a Strong Rookie Season
The second-round pick out of Nevada has been a nice surprise for the Clippers this season.
While his averages of 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game may not jump off the page, Monday's game showed what he can do with an expanded role.
The win moved the Clippers to 13-22 on the season and gave them their seventh win in eight games as they try to climb back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
The Warriors fell to 19-18 with the loss, and they have now lost eight straight road games to the Clippers.
Sanders was a second-round pick by the New York Knicks in the 2025 NBA Draft before being traded to the Clippers on draft night. He is on a two-way contract with the San Diego Clippers of the NBA G League, but performances like Monday's could change that conversation soon.
"The NBA is consistency and opportunity," Sanders said. "I was blessed with the opportunity and I'm just trying to stay consistent."