Trail Blazers Draft UConn Standout Donovan Clingan with 7th Overall Pick
Following a standout collegiate career marked by consecutive national championships with UConn, Donovan Clingan is set to join the Portland Trail Blazers.
On Wednesday night, the Trail Blazers secured Clingan with the 7th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Standing at 7-foot-2, the center played a pivotal role in UConn's recent title successes, making them the first team in 17 years to achieve such a feat.
While Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr initially led the draft discussions, Clingan gained momentum in the days leading up to the draft. Ultimately, Portland opted for Clingan after Risacher was chosen first overall by the Hawks, recognizing him as a solid choice in a draft class otherwise considered weak.
During his time with UConn, the 20-year-old averaged 13 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, contributing significantly to the team's 2024 national championship and as a key bench player in the 2023 title-winning season. Known for his defensive prowess, Clingan boasts a wingspan close to 7-foot-7, positioning him as a formidable rim protector and a rare traditional center in today's NBA. His offensive game has also shown development, excelling in pick-and-roll situations and maintaining a high shooting efficiency of nearly 64% from the field last season.
Expected to bolster Portland's defense immediately, Clingan is seen as a player with immense growth potential. Head coach Dan Hurley has drawn comparisons between Clingan and a younger Nikola Jokić.
“What we talked to him about was don't get caught up in mastering the game inside and out,” Hurley said, via ESPN. “We'd show him Nikola Jokić from an offensive standpoint when he was younger. So that Donovan would understand that when Jokić was 19, that wasn't what he was doing right now. You're watching what he's doing right now and thinking I should be doing that right now. Well, that's not what he was doing [at that age].
“If he was, well f***, he wouldn't have been drafted in the second round.”
