The 2026 NBA Draft is in full swing, and the Los Angeles Clippers are getting a great Illinois basketball player.
With pick No. 5 overall, the Clippers selected former Illini guard Keaton Wagler. This is a selection that will go a long way in getting Los Angeles back into the playoffs, and they aren’t just getting a talented player.
Wagler is a guard who has been doubted his entire career. He was a 247Sports Composite Rankings three-star recruit and the No. 261 player in the class of 2025. He shouldn’t be a draft pick, let alone a top-five pick in the NBA Draft.
The people doubting him have put a chip on his shoulder. In the post-NBA Draft interview, Wagler doesn’t have any plans of losing that chip.
“I will. It is something I can’t change my mindset with. I got to continue to prove myself to show everyone that I belong here and can be one of the best players in this league.”
That toughness from Wagler is why he instantly became a leader for Illinois. He went from essentially a nobody in the recruiting world to one of the best players in the country on a Final Four team to now being a top-five pick in the NBA Draft.
Not only did Wagler say he isn’t losing that chip on his shoulder, but his dad also had some words that should raise the eyebrows of Clippers fans.
“He may have a baby face. He may look younger than most of these guys. But he is a killer on the court. We saw that from the day he was born. He is a competitive kid. He is just wired that way.”
"I got to continue to prove myself to show everyone that I belong here and can be one of the best players in this league."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 24, 2026
Keaton Wagler speaks on playing with a chip on his shoulder in the NBA after being drafted by the Clippers 🏀 pic.twitter.com/cKPSsUjt0o
Keaton Wagler will provide the point guard help that the Los Angeles Clippers most desperately need
I think this is one of the best spots Wagler could have landed. If he falls any further, he is going to one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Thankfully, the Clippers picked Wagler at No. 5. He now joins a Los Angeles team that needed point guard help.
The only point guard on the roster is Darius Garland. He has a $42 million price tag on him through the next two seasons, so it is a difficult situation. The Clippers needed to get point guard help at a discount, and Wagler provides that help.
It wouldn’t shock me to see Wagler give Garland a real run for starting at the No. 1 guard spot this season. He will be an instant impact player, and I think he will gel well with Kawhi Leonard. They both have cool, calm, and collected personalities. This is a great fit for Wagler.
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