The Sacramento Kings’ 2025-26 season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan - at least not if the goal was to compete. Sitting at 5-16, near the bottom of the Western Conference, the Kings are clearly in evaluation mode. But amid the losses and lineup juggling, one intriguing development is quietly unfolding: rookie Nique Clifford is starting to carve out his place in the league.
Clifford, the 24th overall pick in this year’s draft, has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise murky season. At 23 years old, he’s not the youngest rookie, but he brings a mature, versatile game that’s already earned him minutes in every contest he’s been available for. Through 17 appearances, he’s averaging 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in just under 16 minutes per game - modest numbers, but they don’t tell the whole story.
Early in the season, Clifford was seeing real opportunity. With Malik Monk and others missing time, the rookie averaged nearly six shots per game over his first eight outings and logged over 22 minutes per night.
But as the roster got healthier and rotations tightened, those numbers dipped. Over the last nine games, he’s averaging just 1.4 shot attempts and 10.4 minutes per game.
That drop-off hasn’t gone unnoticed. Kings interim head coach Doug Christie addressed it directly after Monday’s practice, saying, “I thought Nique had regressed a little bit from his aggressiveness initially. And after talking to him, I thought he was super aggressive, super confident.”
Christie’s comments came on the heels of Sunday’s loss to Memphis, where Clifford played just under 13 minutes and went 2-for-2 from the field. On paper, that’s a quiet night. But on the floor, his energy and confidence were evident - even if the box score didn’t scream it.
And let’s be real: it’s not easy for a rookie to assert himself on a team loaded with veteran scorers. When you’re sharing the court with names like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, and Domantas Sabonis, it’s natural to defer. But that’s not what the Kings want from Clifford - and it’s not what made him an appealing prospect out of Colorado State in the first place.
At 6'5", Clifford brings a unique blend of size, ball-handling, and playmaking. He’s not just a 3-and-D guy or a hustle player - he’s got the tools to create for himself and others. That skill set only shines if he’s willing to take risks, even if that means making mistakes along the way.
“With the young players, it’s the consistency of effort and growth,” Christie said. “The willingness to make mistakes, if that makes sense.
You can be reserved and not learn a lot, or you can put it all out there and then go back and figure it out. And I respect that, because it’s hard to be learning on the stage in certain situations.”
That’s the key for Clifford right now: learning on the fly. He’s not being handed the keys to the offense, but he’s being asked to make the most of his minutes - to stay aggressive, stay confident, and show flashes of the player he can become.
And while his minutes have dipped, the long-term outlook might be more encouraging. With the trade deadline looming in February, there’s growing expectation that Kings GM Scott Perry will make some moves to reshape the top of the roster. If that happens - and Sacramento leans further into a developmental phase - Clifford could be one of the primary beneficiaries.
Even now, he’s in a valuable spot. Getting to learn from veterans like Westbrook and DeRozan is something most young guards would jump at. That kind of mentorship can’t be measured in minutes, but it can accelerate growth if the rookie is paying attention - and all signs point to Clifford doing exactly that.
So yes, the Kings are struggling. And yes, the standings aren’t pretty.
But in the margins of a tough season, there’s a rookie guard finding his footing, showing flashes, and earning the trust of his coach. If Clifford keeps stringing together solid stretches - even in limited minutes - he’s going to force the Kings’ hand.
The more he shows, the harder it’ll be to keep him off the floor.
What’s Next for the Kings?
Sacramento hits the road for a three-game swing starting Wednesday night in Houston. It’ll be the first meeting of the season between the Kings and a Rockets squad that’s off to a strong start and currently holding down a top-five seed in the West.
The Kings had Houston’s number last year, sweeping the season series 3-0. That included a 113-103 win at Toyota Center on March 1, when DeMar DeRozan dropped 21 points to lead the way.
Tip-off is set for 5:00 PM PT, with pregame coverage starting at 2:00 PM on Sactown Sports 1140 AM.
Stay tuned - this road trip could tell us a lot about where this Kings team is headed, and how much runway Clifford will have to keep growing.