The Los Angeles Clippers Roster Boasts an Impressive Mix of Experienced Veterans and Fresh Local Talent

Above: Photo courtesy Los Angeles Clippers

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Indeed, the Greater L.A. area is currently home to 12 professional sports teams, half of which play or train in communities neighboring the South Bay. When SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome opened, bringing the Rams, Chargers and Clippers to neighboring Inglewood, the South Bay became the undeniable preferred address for these professional athletic franchises.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer always has an eye on improving and uplifting the community. When he decided to invest an estimated $2 billion locally to build Intuit Dome, the country’s preeminent indoor arena, he knew it would be a game changer for SoCal.

“It’s a beautiful area, close to the water and the arena, and it’s out of the way of the traffic. I’m a SoCal kid at heart, so it feels like home.”

Since Intuit Dome is used solely for basketball and entertainment, not hockey, all the seats are much closer to the court. Thus, although it’s a large-capacity arena, it feels intimate. The arena has a section called the Wall, where only verified fans sit, and there are no boxes or suites, creating a spirited interaction between the players and diehard fans.

Above: Photo courtesy Los Angeles Clippers

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Yet undeniably, the most prominent feature of the 18,300-seat arena is the state-of-the-art Halo board featuring the largest 4K, full-UHD, double-sided LED board ever constructed with 233 million pixels. It enables every seat in the arena to have a fully immersive and interactive game experience.

“Steve’s vision was incredible—the Wall, the seats, the facial recognition so there are no lines, the elevated food, the technology of the Halo board and interactive games. He wanted to make this the greatest fan experience,” explains Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations. “His goal was to make this the ultimate destination for the players, their families, staff and fans. And I think he’s overdelivered. This building is incredible.”

The relocation to Inglewood has enabled the Clippers to strengthen ties to the South Bay. Since moving to Inglewood, many additional members of the Clippers franchise have also moved to the area. They estimate that at least half of the organization now calls the South Bay home. And Intuit’s proximity to one of L.A.’s most desirable areas has become an enhanced recruiting tool in attracting top talent to the team.

“It’s a big selling point to be minutes away from the South Bay,” says Lawrence. “You go from Inglewood and this incredible arena, then 14 minutes away you’re in a whole different world. You have the ocean and an unbelievable community. It’s its own little ecosystem. Essentially, when you go to the South Bay you stay in the South Bay.”

As Lawrence and the Clippers were building this year’s roster, they added four veteran players—all at their peak—including Chris Paul, who had previously been with the team. And they recruited two standout rookies with their first- and second-round draft picks. The Clippers’ proximity to the South Bay definitely enhanced the rookies’ transition to joining the team. Both have made the South Bay their new home.

Kobe Sanders, a 23-year-old rookie, hails from San Diego. The 6’8” guard signed a two-way contract with the team, allowing him to play with both the Clippers and their G League, the San Diego Clippers, which he described as a dream come true. Kobe first picked up a basketball when he was 4, following in the footsteps of his older brother. Their mom and dad were their earliest coaches. Kobe says basketball is a “family affair.”

“It’s a beautiful area, close to the water and the arena, and it’s out of the way of the traffic. So getting to the arena and back is easy for me,” Kobe says of his new community. “Coming from San Diego, I was blessed to stay so close to home. I’m a SoCal kid at heart, so it feels like home.”

Kobe says the first time he saw Intuit Dome, it took his breath away. He especially likes the Wall, which reminds him of a college student section. Momentously, Intuit was also the site of his first concert: Kali Uchis.

Yanic Konan Niederhäuser’s transition to SoCal was a bit more pronounced. The native of Bern, Switzerland, played for Penn State and was notably the first first-round NBA draft pick in the university’s history. Although Los Angeles is a big change from Europe and the East Coast, the 6’11” center always hoped to end up here.

“That’s my dream city, since I’m a kid. It was a perfect scenario for me. I love it here,” he shares.

Yanic has a lot of support in acclimating to his new environment because his family joined him in the South Bay. “I have my younger brother and my mother here. They moved in with me. But they still do some back-and-forth because my dad still lives in Switzerland. He still works there and takes care of the (family) home.”

The Clippers actively support local communities through their nonprofit foundation, providing mentorship, education and outreach. From reading in schools and cleaning beaches to building basketball courts in underserved neighborhoods, the team takes pride in its role off the court and throughout the Southland.

Kobe and Yanic recognize that their team’s influence stems from a deep sense of camaraderie between players, coaches and staff. “The Clippers vets are like my big brothers, my uncs,” Yanic says. “They’re really good people, helping me with everything. We have good chemistry. The team feels like a family.