The Kings' first game of the 2025-2026 preseason did not end the way they wanted to. An eight-point-loss to the Toronto Raptors was a sour note, to say the least. But a positive takeaway from the evening was the performance of rookie Nique Clifford.
After a trade between the Kings and OKC, Nique was selected 24th by Sacramento in the 2025 NBA draft. The 23-year-old shooting guard had a great college career, playing first for the University of Colorado and then for Colorado State.
On a team loaded with shoot-first guards, there was some concern that a rookie like Nique would struggle to find minutes with the Kings.