Former Ole Miss guard Sean Pedulla earned a game ball following his first appearance in the NBA.
The former Rebel scored six points in as many minutes for the Los Angeles Clippers in a 153-128 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Though veteran Kawhi Leonard’s 45-point outing headlined the blowout, Pedulla made a statement as an undrafted rookie, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter.
A skirmish broke out after the matchup between multiple players on both teams. One of the players involved was Clipper guard Bennedict Mathurin, who later told reporters that he was merely trying to get the game ball for Pedulla. Minnesota forward Naz Reid stripped the ball from Mathurin during the scuffle, but Los Angeles players were ultimately able to secure it and present it to Pedulla after tensions died down.
“[I was] trying to get the game ball. My rookie scored his first points in the NBA. I can’t take that for granted. It only happens once,” Mathurin said. “[I was] trying to be a good teammate trying to get the game ball. We don’t go through those situations with violence. We need peace. Everybody needs peace.”
Sean Pedulla’s first @NBA points 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/oDeMPbDOZC
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) March 12, 2026
Pedulla signed a two-way contract with the Clippers in February and appeared in three games for the franchise’s G League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, scoring 20 or more points in each game. He was called up on March 6 but did not see any floor action in his first three NBA games.
Pedulla began his pro career with an invite to play for the Portland Trailblazers during the 2025 NBA Summer League, which eventually opened roster spot for him on their G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. With the Remix, Pedulla recorded five double-doubles, scoring 30 or more points seven times including a season-best 46 points in early February. He followed up his 46-point game with a season-best 18 assists in the following game.
Pedulla helped lead Ole Miss to a historic 2024-25 season a year ago, guiding the Rebels to their second-ever Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He led the team in scoring at 15.4 points per game, earning all-SEC honors.