What the Clippers Need from Their Younger Core to Stay Competitive

For the Los Angeles Clippers, staying competitive in a brutal Western Conference means leaning not only on their decorated veterans but on the younger pieces who can raise the team’s ceiling. With an older core built around stars like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, the Clippers need energy, versatility, and internal growth from their developing players. This season isn’t just about surviving the schedule; it’s about discovering which young guys can be trusted. The year may hinge on how quickly that next wave settles into roles.

At the front of that group is rookie guard Kobe Sanders, whose athleticism and scoring instincts give the Clippers something they’ve lacked at times: downhill pressure from the perimeter. Sanders has already shown flashes as a slasher and movement shooter, but the staff needs him to sharpen his decision-making and stay locked in defensively. If he can defend without fouling, make the extra pass, and knock down open threes, Sanders can become a rotation option instead of a situational spark. On a roster heavy with playmaking but light on young legs, his growth could be one of the season’s swing factors.

Second-year forward Kobe Brown is just as important. Brown’s size and toughness make him an ideal connective piece in the frontcourt alongside veterans like John Collins and Ivica Zubac. The Clippers need him to hit corner threes, attack closeouts, and rebound to earn Tyronn Lue’s trust. If Brown can guard multiple positions and bring consistent effort on the glass, he gives Los Angeles a low-usage role player who fits next to stars and can stay on the floor in playoff-style lineups.

Two-way wings Jordan Miller and Jahmyl Telfort round out the youth movement on the perimeter. Miller’s feel and cutting translate well to a team that sometimes stalls in the half-court, while Telfort’s strength and defensive intensity could help on tough matchups. Add in the upside of rookie big Yanic Konan Niederhäuser, who brings size and rim protection behind Zubac and Brook Lopez, and the outline of a young core is clear. The Clippers don’t need any of these players to be stars, but they do need them to be playable and steadily improving if they want to keep pace in a stacked West.