Nique Clifford shocked everyone in the Sacramento Kings' first preseason game by delivering an almost breakout performance. Since then, he's been a lot quieter as he sorts out his game. But what fans have continued to see from Clifford has been impressive. The rest will come with time.
Clifford joined the Kings as part of the 2025 draft, with some labeling him the steal of the draft. That didn't stick as teammate and fellow rookie Maxime Raynaud quickly usurped it. Clifford had a solid rookie season, but had some problems acclimating to the speed and physicality of the NBA.
The goals for Clifford over the offseason were clear, but by no means simple. He had to tighten up his shooting, particularly from behind the arc. He had to pick up the pace of his game. And, most importantly, he had to find that dog in him. Based on what fans have seen so far, he did.
Game one of the preseason saw Clifford collect 23 points, nine rebounds, and two assists. His second game was much quieter with four points, two rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Game three wasn't much better. He had three points, one rebound, three assists, and two steals.
This is a much more aggressive version of Clifford
While the number of points Clifford is getting has declined since game one, the number of shots he's taking is key. He's averaging ten field goal attempts per game, which is good to see. As long as Clifford keeps shooting, success will follow. That's the aggression and determination the Kings want.
On top of that, Clifford is finding other ways to be productive. His point totals slid, but he dished out more assists in games two and three than he did in game one. On top of that, Clifford was a strong presence on defence. He collected multiple steals, helping hold the line at that end of the court.
What makes a successful NBA player isn't being perfect on the court every game. That just isn't possible. The great ones keep pushing even when they aren't on point, and create new opportunities to contribute. That's exactly what Clifford has consistently done so far this preseason.
All of that being said, everyone wants to see Clifford pick up his shooting, particularly from three. Given the tenacity Clifford has shown so far in his sophomore season, seeing those kind of improvements continue should not be unexpected. This could be Clifford's season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google