INGLEWOOD — Second-year wing player Jordan Miller knows the value of staying ready. A coach could call upon him at any time, so he prepares for each game as though he was in the rotation.
Yet, Miller was caught off guard when Coach Tyronn Lue called him off the bench to replace Amir Coffey on the floor in Wednesday’s game against the Orlando Magic. It was a good thing he was game-ready.
Coffey had started in place of Norman Powell, who was out with a sore left hamstring, leaving a rotation spot open. Before that game, Lue was even tight-lipped about his plans when speaking to reporters.
“At shoot around was my first clue, but still no one from the coaching staff told me before the game,” Miller said Friday. “It was just one of those times when your number is called and you have to be ready, you know?”
Miller didn’t let the coaching staff down, scoring eight points and securing three rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes, proving to be a solid choice if needed.
He was Lue’s first choice again in Friday’s 104-88 victory against the Sacramento Kings and is expected to play a similar role when the team travels to Philadelphia for a game Sunday against the 76ers. Powell is listed as out for that game.
“I’m trying to leave a good impression because I don’t know what it’s going to look like when Norm gets back,” Miller said. “But they can see that I’m a solid player, and if anything ever goes wrong (injuries) or if we need a spark, Coach will be more confident in me moving forward versus me not playing.”
Miller said it’s “huge” to make the most of these opportunities. He spent much of his first season in the G League and remains on a two-way contract with the Clippers. He’s played one game for the San Diego Clippers this season before moving into his permanent locker at Intuit Dome.
“I can’t stress it enough about me and Kobe (Brown),” said Miller, who is part of the same draft class as Brown. “We work really hard. A lot of people don’t really see it, but we got to be ready for times like these, so hopefully we can capitalize on it.”
Miller, 24, credits his time playing in the G League for developing and refining the skills he had coming out of the University of Miami. He averaged 26.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in 23 regular season games and 22 points and 6.7 boards in 16 Showcase Cup games last season.
He made his mark, however, at the 2024 NBA Summer League, where his burgeoning talent was on display. He was All-Summer League First Team and was runner-up to Brooklyn Nets’ forward Jalen Wilson for Player of the Year honors.
Miller’s summertime performance didn’t guarantee him a spot in the rotation when this season began. He didn’t stress about it, finding his situation somewhat frustrating – too good for the G League but stuck in limbo on a talented roster.
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But he pushes on, perfecting his game, controlling what he can and waiting for more opportunities.
“I’m glad I was able to make strides this year and show everybody that I can play in the NBA, not just the G League,” Miller said in October. “So, every night I just try to go out and prove that—I don’t want to sound arrogant but I’m too good for the G League. That’s what’s on my mind. Respect to the G League and all the players, obviously.”
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t frustrating,” he added. “But I’m a firm believer in God’s plan for me. What I can do every day is just get better at playing basketball, whether it’s film, whether it’s playing, whether it’s you-name-it. “So, I try not to let the frustration take over because, honestly, it’s like what is that going to do for me? It’s not going to change anything, so the best thing I can do is just stay positive, keep my head down and keep pushing.”
Clippers at Philadelphia
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
TV/radio: FDSNSC/AM 570