Yanic Konan Niederhauser Is Giving the Clippers Exactly What They’ve Been Missing
For years, the LA Clippers have been spinning the backup center roulette wheel, hoping to land on someone who could give them consistent minutes behind Ivica Zubac. Names like Kai Jones, Mo Bamba, and Drew Eubanks came and went without much impact. But now, it looks like they might have finally found their guy-and he’s a rookie.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser turned heads with a breakout performance in the Clippers’ 119-105 win over the Wizards, putting up 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists in a game that felt like more than just a flash in the pan. That showing came right in the middle of LA’s six-game win streak and was followed by a solid 14-minute stint against Toronto, where he chipped in five points and two boards in a comeback win.
This isn’t just a feel-good story about a young player getting some run. Niederhauser has made the most of his opportunity with both Zubac and John Collins sidelined earlier in the season. The Penn State product has stepped into the rotation with confidence and energy, showing why the Clippers have been so high on his potential since day one.
He’s brought something that’s been missing from LA’s second unit for a while: a true vertical threat and a jolt of defensive activity. He’s not just out there running laps-he’s finishing lobs, contesting shots, and playing with a motor that’s hard to teach.
In short, he looks like more than a project. He looks like a player.
A Three-Headed Center Rotation That Actually Works
Now, the Clippers find themselves with a good kind of problem: three centers, three very different skill sets, and one rotation to figure out. Ivica Zubac is still the anchor down low, a reliable rebounder and post presence who knows how to control the paint.
Brook Lopez brings veteran savvy and the ability to stretch defenses with his three-point shot. And then there’s Niederhauser-the athlete, the rim-runner, the spark plug.
It’s a luxury the Clippers didn’t have last season, when they were forced to get creative (and sometimes desperate) with their backup bigs. Whether it was trying to plug Ben Simmons into the five or watching end-of-bench guys get exposed in extended minutes, there was a clear void behind Zubac. That’s no longer the case.
Now, head coach Tyronn Lue has the flexibility to tailor his lineups to matchups. Need floor spacing?
Lopez is your guy. Need size and physicality?
Zubac. Need energy, speed, and someone to finish plays above the rim?
Niederhauser’s ready. It’s a dynamic trio that gives LA options they simply didn’t have before.
The Rookie’s Rise Comes at the Right Time
What makes Niederhauser’s emergence even more valuable is the timing. The Clippers are clawing their way up the Western Conference standings, sitting just 1.5 games out of ninth place. Every game matters, and every contribution counts.
And while the heavy lifting still falls on the shoulders of stars like Kawhi Leonard and James Harden, Niederhauser’s presence gives them a breather. His energy on both ends of the floor allows the veterans to conserve just a little more for crunch time. He’s not taking over games, but he’s keeping the engine running-and that’s huge for a team trying to make a late-season push.
There’s still plenty of room for growth. Fans are already hoping he starts letting it fly from deep once in a while to expand his offensive game.
He’s got the form, and adding a jumper would only make him more dangerous. But even now, his attitude and joy on the court are infectious.
You can see it in the way teammates respond to him, and you can hear it in the buzz from the crowd when he checks in.
He’s going to make mistakes-every rookie does. But the flashes are real.
The timing is right. And if he keeps trending upward, Niederhauser might just be the unexpected X-factor that helps the Clippers power their way into the postseason.