Nique Clifford
Dominique Akai “Nique” Clifford, born on February 9, 2002, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing at 6’5″ (1.96 m) and weighing 174 lbs (79 kg), he primarily plays as a shooting guard. Clifford’s basketball journey began in his hometown, where he attended The Vanguard School. During his senior year, he excelled as the Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year, showcasing his all-around talent by averaging 26.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game. His impressive high school performance garnered attention from several universities, and he ultimately committed to playing college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, turning down offers from institutions such as Stanford, Denver, Northern Colorado, Colorado State, and Wyoming. His collegiate career began at the University of Colorado, where he played for the Colorado Buffaloes. In his sophomore season, Clifford averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He continued to develop as a player, and during his junior year, he participated in 35 games, starting 33 of them, and averaged 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Following his junior season with Colorado, Clifford entered the NCAA transfer portal, seeking new opportunities for his collegiate career. Clifford then transferred to Colorado State University, where he continued to hone his skills. His time with the Colorado State Rams lasted from 2023 to 2025. During his stint in college, he earned significant accolades, including being named First Team All-Mountain West in 2025, Third Team All-Mountain West in 2024, and securing a spot on the Mountain West All-Defensive Team in 2025. He was also instrumental in his team’s success, earning the Mountain West Tournament MVP title in 2025. Nique Clifford’s talent did not go unnoticed by NBA scouts. He was selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, as the 24th overall pick, by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Subsequently, his NBA career officially began in 2025 when he joined the Sacramento Kings. He now wears jersey number 5 for the Kings, marking the beginning of his professional journey in one of the most competitive basketball leagues in the world. His professional career highlights include the aforementioned collegiate distinctions that set the stage for his entry into the NBA.
