Sacramento Kings Rookie Watch - Nique Clifford

Growing up in Colorado, shooting guard Nique Clifford played his entire basketball career in front of his hometown fans. Starting his career at The Vanguard School, where he was named the state’s Player of the Year, Clifford then moved on to play three seasons for the Colorado Buffaloes before finishing his college career at Colorado State as one of the top players in the Mountain West Conference.  

As one of the senior players in the 2025 NBA Draft class at 23 years of age, Clifford comes to a Sacramento Kings team looking to re-establish an identity in the Western Conference. Acquired by the Kings in a draft-day trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 24th pick could quickly find himself earning minutes backing up either Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan as part of the second unit.

Averaging 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field and 45.8% from beyond the arc during Summer League, Clifford not only made his presence felt statistically, but also defensively with an effort that doesn’t appear on the box score. 

For a Kings team looking to solidify its bench depth, Clifford provides coach Doug Christie with a solid two-way player who can contribute immediately. Whereas other rookies may need more time to gain experience, the fifth-year senior will likely be able to make an immediate impact. 

With his ability to score on or off the ball, the 6’6” combo guard / small forward also provides solid ball-handling and distribution skills on the transition. Defensively, Clifford’s size and speed allow him to guard multiple positions and record both steals and blocks.  

If the Kings do, in fact, move guard Malik Monk, who has been part of trade rumors all offseason, the opportunity for Clifford to earn even more minutes presents itself. Should the roster remain as is to start the season, look for the potential sleeper pick of the draft to earn 15-18 minutes with 8-10 points, 3-4 rebounds, and 2-3 assists. Should there be an early to mid-season trade, those stats could jump significantly enough to potentially see Clifford on one of the All-Rookie teams.