What Yanic Konan Niederhauser brings to The LA Clippers from Penn State
For now, the 7-footer profiles to be the backup to breakout star Ivica Zubac, who averaged career highs in both points(16.8) and rebounds(12.6) to bolster a Clippers squad that proved to be deeper than expected. Important depth pieces for the Clippers such as Norman Powell, Bogdan Bogdanovich, and Nicolas Batum. Plus, Konan Niederhauser will also have a fellow former Nittany Lion on the team with him in Seth Lundy, the last Nittany Lion to be drafted before him. And of course, there are the marquee names in Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
Most importantly, Konan Niederhauser will be developed by a coach with a championship pedigree. Tyronn Lue has been with the franchise for six years and has been to the postseason in four of them. However, he is most well-known for leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA title over the 73-win Golden State Warriors. Look for Konan Niederhauser to truly benefit from that kind of leadership.
Perhaps the most glowing endorsement of what to expect from Niederhauser in the NBA comes from Penn State assistant coach Brett Scott, "I think his length and athleticism, his mobility. Yanic grew late. He was kind of like a guard, so he grew late, grew like six or seven inches late to be 7-1." Hopefully, all those assets pay off on a Clippers squad that could be sneaky dangerous in the Western Conference next year.
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