Kings' Nique Clifford: Scores 15 off bench in loss
Rotowire
Clifford finished with 15 points (5-11 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block across 26 minutes during Friday's 124-123 preseason loss to the Trail Blazers.
Clifford led the way off the bench, as one of only two Kings -- Zach LaVine being the other -- to score 15 or more points Friday. The rookie guard was given the time to show what he could do during this one-point loss, playing a team-high 26 minutes.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Dishes out nine assists
Rotowire
Clifford finished with 10 points (3-7 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, nine assists and two steals across 24 minutes during Wednesday's 120-122 preseason loss to the Raptors.
Clifford came one assist shy of recording a double-double, as he provided a spark off the bench. The Colorado State product also made an impact during the Las Vegas Summer League, showing the ability to fill up the stat sheet, especially crashing the glass and as a distributor.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Flirts with triple-double
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Clifford tallied 19 points (8-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 1-1 FT), nine assists and seven rebounds across 31 minutes in Wednesday's 94-86 Summer League win over the Cavaliers.
Clifford's strong Summer League showing continued Tuesday, marking his third consecutive game with 19 points while also contributing as a playmaker and rebounder. His impressive fifth-year campaign at Colorado State has carried over seamlessly into summer action as he looks to earn a spot in the Kings' rotation for the 2025-26 season.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Paces Sacramento in SL win
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Clifford chipped in 19 points (7-8 FG, 3-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block across 24 minutes in Monday's 94-76 Summer League win over the Suns.
Clifford posted a game-high 19 points during an efficient outing. The No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft also tied the game-best mark in steals. The Kings are 3-0 in Summer League play, and Clifford has posted at least 17 points in each of those matchups while shooting 60.6 percent from the field in that span.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Double-double in SL win
Rotowire
Clifford closed with 19 points (8-13 FG, 3-4 3Pt), 12 rebounds, five assists and one steal across 28 minutes in Saturday's 109-92 Summer League win over the Bulls.
Clifford delivered a strong performance Saturday, drilling three three-pointers and securing double-digit rebounds. The No. 24 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is coming off an impressive season at Colorado State, where he averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 37.7 percent from three across 36 total games.
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Kings' Nique Clifford: Joins Sacramento
Rotowire
Clifford was selected by the Kings with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
This pick originally belonged to the Thunder but was rerouted in a trade to the Kings that sends a 2027 first-round pick to Oklahoma City, NBA reporter Jake Fischer reports. Clifford broke out as a fifth-year senior at Colorado State, averaging 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals on 49.6 percent shooting and 37.7 percent from beyond the arc in 36 games. The guard rebounds exceptionally well for his size, often playing bigger than his listed height, and he's also a high-volume shooter, though his three-point consistency still has room for improvement. Malik Monk and Zach LaVine are in the Sacramento backcourt right now, but a busy offseason with flurries of moves could open up more time for Clifford.
