Kings first-round pick Nique Clifford details how he can contribute in Year 1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Nique Clifford might be entering his rookie NBA season, but he’s ready to contribute right away.
The 23-year-old, whom the Kings traded up to select in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, sat down with NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan following his introductory press conference and broke down what he’ll bring to Sacramento during his rookie year.
“Just a level of energy every day. A level of positivity,” Clifford told Ragan. “I feel like I could bring that every single day to the people around me and help my teammates be better and just push everyone around me to be better and want to get better.
“And then on the court, versatility. Being able to go out there and defend, rebound, just play super hard. And then when I get my opportunity to knock down shots and make the right play offensively.”
Clifford’s versatility is what attracted the Kings to him, as he takes great pride in being a two-way player.
The former Colorado State standout told Ragan that mindset began at an early age.
“I think it goes back to how I was raised,” Clifford said. “My dad always taught me to play both ends of the floor. You have to take pride offensively just as much as you do defensively. Not wanting your man to score on you. I was just instilled with that at a young age.
“You see the great players, Michael Jordans, the Kobes, people like that, they played both sides of the floor. I feel like that’s true greatness.”
This fall, Clifford will have to back his words on the court.
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Kings first-round pick Nique Clifford details how he can contribute in Year 1
Nique Clifford might be entering his rookie NBA season, but he’s ready to contribute right away.
The 23-year-old, whom the Kings traded up to select in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, sat down with NBC Sports California’s Morgan Ragan following his introductory press conference and broke down what he’ll bring to Sacramento during his rookie year.
“Just a level of energy every day. A level of positivity,” Clifford told Ragan. “I feel like I could bring that every single day to the people around me and help my teammates be better and just push everyone around me to be better and want to get better.
SIGN UP HERE “And then on the court, versatility. Being able to go out there and defend, rebound, just play super hard. And then when I get my opportunity to knock down shots and make the right play offensively.”
Clifford’s versatility is what attracted the Kings to him, as he takes great pride in being a two-way player.
The former Colorado State standout told Ragan that mindset began at an early age.
“I think it goes back to how I was raised,” Clifford said. “My dad always taught me to play both ends of the floor. You have to take pride offensively just as much as you do defensively. Not wanting your man to score on you. I was just instilled with that at a young age.
NBA
“You see the great players, Michael Jordans, the Kobes, people like that, they played both sides of the floor. I feel like that’s true greatness.”
This fall, Clifford will have to back his words on the court.
