The Sacramento Kings have high hopes for Nique Clifford, particularly from the three-point line. It's one of many areas the Kings are struggling in, but it's also one they could improve quickly. That's largely thanks to Clifford who has been focused on developing his shot all season.
If you're looking for the silver lining in a mostly dismal season for the Kings, a major one would be the gameplay of their rookie trio. Alongside Clifford, both Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have been making waves across the NBA. That's especially true of Raynaud, who is a Rookie Ladder regular.
For Clifford, his rise has been more tempered than the respective trajectories of Raynaud and Cardwell. The main reason for that is he's a guard on a team with a logjam at the one and the two. But the never-ending injuries on Sacramento gave Nique some daylight and he took it.
With the end of the season in sight, Clifford is really finding his game. In March, he's averaging 13.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Those are solid rookie numbers, and demonstrate how quickly Clifford is falling into rhythm. Now, about those threes...
Nique at Night from the beyond the arc
One of head coach Doug Christie's reputed goals for Clifford this season was to increase the number of three-point attempts he's taking each game. The target is at least four shots, and Nique is getting there. He was at 4.2 per game in February and is currently at 3.9 in March.
Obviously, the next step would be sinking as many of those shots as possible, something that will come with time and practice. On February 7th, he went five for nine from the arc, then went zero for five two games later. Consistency comes with experience, and Clifford is well on his way there.
To his credit, Nique has been shooting the three quite well in recent games. In ths Kings' recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Clifford shot three for four from beyond the arc. Across the last four games in total, he gone nine for 20, which puts him at 45% during that run.
The Kings took Nique Clifford in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft because of this exact potential. He's got solid defensive accumen, quick hands, and could becoming a legitimate three-point threat. All Sacramento needs to do is keep developing him, and they'll have a 3&D star.