Offensive Game
Dominant finisher in the paint with outstanding touch for his size. Developing his post game and short-roll playmaking. Still learning to read NBA defensive schemes but the scoring tools are clearly present.
Career Journey
Portland Trail Blazers
2024-present
No. 7 Overall Pick
Selected 7th overall in 2024 NBA Draft
UConn Champion
Won back-to-back NCAA championships at UConn
Defensive Center
Elite shot-blocker and rim protector
Career Earnings
~$10M
Estimated total NBA career salary
Player Agent
2025-26 season · View contract
| Season | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 77 | 12.1 | 11.6 | 2.1 | 52.0% | 34.1% |
Donovan Clingan is a massive, mobile rim protector who broke out in his second season as an anchor for the Portland Trail Blazers. The seventh overall pick in 2024 out of UConn, where he won back-to-back national championships, the 7-foot-2 center nearly doubled his scoring in 2025-26 — averaging 12.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks (tied for fourth in the NBA) while ranking among the league's very best interior defenders, with opponents shooting markedly worse at the rim when he was on the floor. Clingan's rare blend of size, timing and improving offense gives Portland a defensive cornerstone to build around for years.
Source: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Offensive Game
Dominant finisher in the paint with outstanding touch for his size. Developing his post game and short-roll playmaking. Still learning to read NBA defensive schemes but the scoring tools are clearly present.
Defensive Game
Elite shot-blocker with championship pedigree from two UConn national titles. His timing and angles as a shot-blocker are exceptional, and his presence transforms defensive identities.
Intangibles
Two national championships at UConn under Dan Hurley shaped his understanding of team defense and positioning. He arrived in Portland with a conceptual understanding of the game well above most rookies.
Personal Life & Family
Status
Single
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Active in Bristol community youth programs, visiting schools and youth sports organizations
Did You Know?
Clingan is one of very few players in the modern era to win back-to-back NCAA championships before being selected in the NBA lottery
At 7'2' and 280 pounds, he is the biggest player on the 2024-25 Portland roster and one of the largest true centers in the NBA
He grew up just 20 miles from the UConn campus in Storrs, Connecticut, making his college decision a celebrated homecoming for the state
His shot-blocking timing is so precise that coaches describe it as innate — reading a shooter's release point and rejecting without fouling is one of the rarest skills in basketball
Career Honors
2024 NBA Draft #7 Overall Pick
2x NCAA National Champion (UConn 2023, 2024)
Big East All-Freshman Team (2023)
First-Team All-Big East (2024)
Official Jerseys
599.99
Check Price on NBA Store74.99
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832.99
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499.99
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64.87
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83.24
Check Price on NBA Store99.99
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77.00
Check Price on NBA StorePortland Trail Blazers · Official
79.99
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99.99
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
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