Donovan Clingan Emerging as a Cornerstone for the Blazers
Donovan Clingan isn’t making a ton of noise off the court-but on it, he’s becoming impossible to ignore. In just his second season, the 7-foot-2 center is quietly turning into one of the most important pieces of the Portland Trail Blazers’ rebuild.
With Deandre Ayton no longer in the picture, Clingan has stepped into a larger role, and he’s running with it-literally. Improved conditioning, expanded minutes, and a growing offensive toolkit have all played a part in his breakout campaign.
Let’s start with the basics: Clingan came into this season in much better shape, and it’s showing. His minutes are up significantly-from 19.8 as a rookie to 27.4 per game now-and he’s handling the increased workload without losing effectiveness.
That’s no small thing for a young big man, especially one carrying 280 pounds on a 7-foot-2 frame. It’s clear he set a goal to be a 30-minute-a-night player, and while he’s not quite there yet, he’s knocking on the door.
What’s even more impressive is how he’s using those minutes. Clingan is anchoring the Blazers’ defense with a level of poise and presence that’s rare for a second-year player.
He’s a natural fit in drop coverage, using his size, length, and anticipation to wall off the paint. Portland’s defense has taken on a new identity with Clingan as its backbone, and it’s no coincidence.
He’s not just big-he’s smart, and he’s becoming the kind of rim protector teams build around.
But his impact doesn’t stop there.
On the offensive glass, Clingan is a menace. He’s pulling down 11 rebounds per game, and nearly half of those-4.4 per game-are coming on the offensive end.
That’s 40% of his boards, and it puts him among the league’s best in both total and offensive rebounding. These aren’t empty stats, either.
Clingan’s second-chance efforts are creating extra possessions, easy buckets, and momentum-shifting plays. It’s the kind of dirty work that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels but wins games.
And here’s the kicker: he’s doing all of this without needing the ball in his hands.
In a league that’s increasingly dominated by high-usage stars, Clingan’s low-usage, high-impact style is a breath of fresh air. His usage rate sits at just 15.2%, 10th on the Blazers’ roster, yet he’s arguably been their second-most important player this season-trailing only Deni Avdija.
That’s a testament to how well his game fits alongside others. He doesn’t need touches to make a difference, which gives Portland the flexibility to build around players like Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe, who carry heavier offensive loads.
Still, Clingan isn’t just standing in the dunker spot waiting for lobs. He’s added a bit of floor spacing to his game, too.
He’s shooting 30.7% from three on three attempts per night. That’s not lights-out, but it’s enough to force defenders to think twice.
Just the threat of a 7-footer stepping out beyond the arc opens up space for drivers and cutters-and that’s a win for the offense.
Of course, he’s not a finished product. There are still areas where Clingan needs to grow.
His hands can be inconsistent, his short-roll decision-making is a work in progress, and he’s still figuring out how to defend in space against quicker players. But let’s not forget-he’s only 21 years old.
And he was the No. 7 pick in what many considered a weak 2024 draft. For Portland to land a player with this kind of upside-and this kind of early impact-in that draft class?
That’s a win any way you slice it.
Clingan’s emergence hasn’t just filled a hole left by Ayton-it’s helped shape the Blazers’ identity moving forward. He’s giving them toughness, defensive structure, and a reliable presence in the paint.
Most importantly, he’s giving them a foundation. In a league where true two-way centers are hard to find, Clingan looks like the kind of player you can build around.
And for a team in the middle of a rebuild, that’s exactly what you want to see.