The Clippers' addition of Max Strus further crowds a wing rotation that already presented Sanders with a difficult path to immediate playing time.
Strus should command regular minutes because of his shooting and ability to play off the Clippers' primary creators, potentially pushing developmental players such as Sanders further down the depth chart. Sanders therefore projects as more of a long-term option than a player likely to make a fantasy impact.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Doesn't play in Friday's SL game
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Sanders (rest) did not participate in the Clippers' 128-120 Summer League overtime win over the Timberwolves on Friday.
Sanders played well in his four Summer League outings and finished strong with 26 points, five assists, three rebounds and one steal over 32 minutes against the Wizards on Wednesday. The 2025 second-rounder averaged 19.9 minutes per game across 68 regular-season contests (19 starts) in his rookie year. Sanders could operate in an expanded role in the upcoming season, even with both Brandon Ingram (heel) and Bennedict Mathurin ahead of him on the depth chart.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Notches 10 points in Summer League
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Sanders totaled 10 points (3-10 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, four assists and four steals in 33 minutes during Thursday's 91-85 Summer League loss to Sacramento.
The second-year guard struggled to find his perimeter shot but made his presence felt defensively, tying for the game high with four steals. Sanders agreed to a four-year, $11.2 million deal with the Clippers back in June but is facing an uphill battle for minutes in the backcourt.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Staying with LAC
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Sanders agreed to a four-year, $11.2 million deal with the Clippers on Tuesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Sanders wasn't a consistent producer last season. However, the 2025 No. 50 overall pick displayed flashes of promise by averaging 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.2 blocks and 0.8 steals while shooting 43.3 percent from deep over 27.3 minutes in 16 regular-season starts. Kawhi Leonard is heading back to Toronto and Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram have struggled to stay healthy over the years, meaning Sanders could get an opportunity to be more active on the scoring end at some point during the 2026-27 campaign.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Sees 11 minutes in loss
Rotowire
Sanders ended Wednesday's 126-121 Play-In Game loss to Golden State with three points (1-3 FG, 1-3 3Pt) and three assists across 11 minutes.
Sanders was the ninth rotation player for the Clippers as their season came to an end. He made a total of 68 regular-season appearances and was never close to standard-league fantasy appeal with averages of 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Drops 17 off bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Sanders posted 17 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), two rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals over 24 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 128-110 loss to the Thunder.
The rookie forward has seen more court time in the last three games as the Clippers wrap up their schedule and prepare for the Play-In Tournament, and Sanders has taken advantage of the opportunity. He's sunk exactly three three-pointers in each contest, averaging 15.0 points, 3.0 threes, 2.3 boards, 2.3 steals and 1.3 assists in 22.7 minutes while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor and 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from beyond the arc. Sanders seems likely to maintain his elevated role over the final two games of the regular season.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Strong showing off bench
Rotowire
Sanders supplied 17 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one assist and four steals over 20 minutes off the bench during Sunday's 138-109 win over the Kings.
It's only the third time in his last 12 games (one start) that Sanders has scored in double digits, but the three made three-pointers tied his career high. The rookie forward is averaging 7.2 points, 1.3 boards, 1.3 assists, 1.3 threes and 1.3 steals in 15.0 minutes during that 12-game stretch as he struggles to maintain a consistent role in the Clippers' rotation.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Drops 19 in Monday's win
Rotowire
Sanders provided 19 points (8-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt), three rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal over 26 minutes off the bench during Monday's 129-96 win over the Bucks.
The 19 points were Sanders' best offensive performance since Jan. 5, when he dropped 20 on the Warriors. The rookie forward has found a fairly consistent role in the Clippers' frontcourt rotation in March, and over his last 10 appearances (four starts), he's averaging 7.6 points, 2.1 boards, 1.7 assists, 1.6 threes and 1.3 steals in 19.7 minutes.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Moves to bench Saturday
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Sanders will come off the bench Saturday against the Grizzlies, according to Lauren Rosen of FanDuel Sports Network SoCal.
The Clippers will start Darius Garland for the first time Saturday. Sanders is likely to maintain a decent role with the second unit for Los Angeles.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Exits rotation Thursday
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Sanders (coach's decision) went unused off the bench in Thursday's 115-114 win over the Nuggets.
Though the Clippers upgraded him from a two-way contract to a standard deal over the All-Star break, Sanders ended up dropping out of the rotation for the first time since Nov. 10, ending a streak of 44 consecutive appearances. With Derrick Jones recently returning from an extended injury-related absence and with the Clippers bringing aboard Bennedict Mathurin at the trade deadline to bolster their depth on the wing, Sanders could regularly find himself outside of head coach Tyronn Lue's nine-man rotation. Sanders may at least temporarily reclaim a role in the second unit for Friday's game against the Lakers, as veteran Nicolas Batum (18 minutes Thursday) could be a candidate to rest for the second leg of a back-to-back set.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Coming off bench Thursday
Rotowire
Sanders is not in the Clippers' starting lineup against the Lakers on Thursday, NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Sanders has started in each of the Clippers' last four games and averaged 10.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.5 threes and 1.0 steals over 27.5 minutes per game over that span. He'll revert to a bench role Thursday due to the return of Kawhi Leonard (knee).
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Back to bench Wednesday
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Sanders is not in the Clippers' starting lineup against the Knicks on Wednesday, NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Sanders was added to the Clippers' starting lineup against the Warriors on Monday after James Harden was ruled out due to a shoulder injury. The former stepped up in a big way, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists across 36 minutes, but Sanders will revert to a bench role against New York after Harden was cleared to return.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Running with starters
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Sanders is starting Monday's game against the Warriors, NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Sanders is in line for his first start since Nov. 22, as the Clippers will be without James Harden (shoulder) on Monday. Sanders has had a tough go of late, averaging 4.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his last five games.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Struggles off bench Thursday
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Sanders racked up five points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt), four rebounds, four assists, one block and two steals in 30 minutes during Thursday's 122-101 loss to the Thunder.
Sanders was barely able to tie his season-high mark in assists despite playing more minutes than usual due to James Harden's (calf) absence. Sanders is expected to remain a bench option in upcoming action as he looks to end a run of five games without scoring in double figures.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Provides spark off bench
Rotowire
Sanders logged 17 points (5-6 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds, four assists and one steal across 27 minutes during Wednesday's 115-92 win over the Hawks.
With Chris Paul off the roster and Bradley Beal (hip) done for the year, Sanders should remain on fantasy watchlists in deep leagues moving forward. The rookie second-rounder averaged 8.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.0 minutes per tilt in his last 10 games.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Scores 17 points in start
Rotowire
Sanders provided 17 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), one rebound, one assist and one steal over 30 minutes during Monday's 110-108 loss to the 76ers.
Sanders was promoted to the starting lineup, replacing Derrick Jones, who is set to miss multiple weeks due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. Sanders responded by scoring a career-high 17 points, rewarding anyone who took a chance on him. The Clippers are treading water right now, meaning Sanders could very well stick in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Questionable Saturday
Rotowire
Updating a previous report, Sanders (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Suns.
Sanders is in jeopardy of missing his sixth consecutive contest due to a sprained right knee. However, the two-way player's potential absence shouldn't cause significant waves in the rotation.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Remains out for Saturday
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Sanders (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Suns, Janis Carr of the Southern California News Group reports.
Sanders will miss a seventh straight game due to a knee issue. The next chance for him to return to the floor will be Monday against the Hawks.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Won't play vs. Phoenix
Rotowire
Sanders (knee) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Suns, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Sanders will miss a sixth straight game due to a knee issue. The next opportunity for him to return to the floor will be Saturday against the Suns.
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Clippers' Kobe Sanders: Won't suit up Tuesday
Rotowire
Sanders (knee) is out for Tuesday's game against the Thunder, independent NBA writer Justin Russo reports.
Sanders will miss his fifth consecutive game due to a right knee injury. His next chance to suit up will be Thursday against the Suns.
