Season stats: 2025-26. Updated 6 h ago.
Nique Clifford Enters Year Two With the Kings Healthy and Ready
newsroom · 50 min agoNique Clifford heads into the 2026-27 season with the Sacramento Kings off a full rookie year, appearing in 75 games last season. He is not on the injury report, and the opener is still ahead.
Where Clifford Stands Now
Nique Clifford enters 2026-27 as a second-year guard on the Sacramento Kings, wearing No. 10. He is 24 years old, stands 6-5, and weighs 175 pounds out of Colorado State. Clifford is not on the injury report, and the brief lists no injury history for him. With no games played yet this season, the opener is still ahead, and Kings fans will be watching to see how his role develops after a full rookie campaign. He played all of last season with Sacramento, so this is a continuation of the same backcourt fit, not a new team learning his game from scratch.
The Rookie-Year Numbers
Clifford's 2025-26 season was a full one: 75 games played, 25.1 minutes a night. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, with 0.9 steals and 0.3 blocks. His turnover rate stayed low at 1.5 per game. Those are solid two-way guard numbers for a rookie getting steady minutes, and they give Sacramento a baseline to build on as he moves into year two. The workload, nearly a full 82-game slate, suggests the coaching staff trusted him enough to keep him on the floor consistently.
Shooting Efficiency Last Season
Clifford shot 41.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range last season, with a true shooting mark of 50.5 percent. He also hit 72.2 percent of his free throws. Those numbers point to a guard who can knock down open looks but has room to sharpen his overall scoring efficiency. His usage rate sat at 16.7 percent, meaning he was not a primary offensive option last season, more of a complementary piece in the Kings' rotation. How that usage shifts in his second year will be one of the things to track once the games start.
Plus-Minus and Team Fit
Clifford finished last season with a minus-2.9 plus-minus, a number worth watching as he heads into year two with Sacramento. He remained with the same team, SAC, all season, so there is no roster transition to account for. For a rookie playing over 25 minutes a night, that plus-minus reflects broader team performance as much as individual play. With training camp and the season opener approaching, the Kings will look for that number to trend upward as Clifford gets more comfortable in the system.
What's Next
The 2026-27 season has not started for Clifford and the Kings, and there is no game log yet to review. He is not dealing with any injury concern heading into the year. With no rumors or roster moves tied to him in the brief, the story right now is simply about development: taking the lessons from a 75-game rookie season and building on them. Sacramento fans will get their first look at how far he has come once the regular season tips off.
Questions fans ask
What team does Nique Clifford play for?
He plays for the Sacramento Kings, wearing No. 10.
Is Nique Clifford injured?
No, he is not on the injury report.
What were Clifford's stats last season?
In 2025-26, he averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over 75 games, shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
How many years of experience does Clifford have?
He is entering his second season, with one season of NBA experience so far.
What college did Nique Clifford attend?
He played college basketball at Colorado State.
Has Nique Clifford played for another NBA team?
No, the brief shows he played for Sacramento last season and remains with the Kings for 2026-27.
Game log
last 0| Date | Opp | Result | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG | 3P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No games logged yet this season. | |||||||||