In the 2025 NBA Draft, Nique Clifford was the Sacramento Kings' only first-round pick. While it took a minute, Clifford has finally found his groove on the roster. He had advanced his game well, and that's largely thanks to the Kings taking their time developing him. That patience is paying off.
Sacramento has absolutely been pummelled by injuries this season. It's been so bad that the Kings' original planned starting five never played a single game together. The last couple of months in particular have been brutal as several Kings ended up on the bench for the rest of the season.
Keeping in mind that's all terrible, it did create some huge opportunities for rookie and sophomore players. As an example, Domantas Sabonis ended up only playing 19 games this season. His absence allowed both Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell to shine, becoming breakout stars.
In Raynaud's case, he became the starting center and rose to the challenge. He's now one of the top rookies in the league. Cardwell, on the other hand, has become a defensive powerhouse and a dangerous lob threat in the paint. He has 12 blocks in the last four games, nine of them in the last two.
The Kings took a different approach with Clifford
Raynaud and Cardwell developed so quickly because the Kings threw them right in the deep end of the pool. But the coaching staff believed they could handle it. The situation was a bit different with Clifford, as Sacramento was concerned about both his confidence and aggression.
To be clear, no one has ever questioned his ability, skill, or dedication. Clifford is an incredible player. It's just that he didn't seem to acclimatize to the NBA ecosystem as quickly as his fellow rookies. To their credit, the Kings realized this and didn't push Clifford too hard or too fast.
That patience has already paid off. With time and experience over the 2025-2026 season, Clifford has become far more confident on the court, not to mention aggressive on both offense and defense. Plus, he has found a flow with Raynaud and Cardwell on the court that cannot be denied.
Had the Kings forced the issue with Clifford too quickly, he might not have worked out as well. This bodes well for the future as Sacramento seems to finally be using a thoughtful process when it comes to player development. It's a big step in the right direction for the franchise and Clifford.