Oklahoma City Thunder select Nique Clifford in 2025 NBA Draft, trade to Sacramento Kings

Colorado State guard Nique Clifford has been selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Draft. He was taken in the first round with the No. 24 overall pick, but was traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Clifford had an outstanding college career, one that got better year after year. By the time he left Colorado State he had posted a season averaging 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.

He was significantly better as a senior at Colorado State than he was in any other season, really developing over time for the Rams. He spent two years at Colorado State.

Initially, Nique Clifford enrolled at Colorado. He spent three seasons there, with his high-water mark coming in his second season when he averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

He started 33 of 35 games as a third-year player at Colorado in 2022-23, but his numbers dipped a bit. Eventually, Clifford decided on a change. He transferred to rival Colorado State.

In his first year with the Rams, Nique Clifford pretty much doubled his previous career highs. He averaged 12.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Those numbers would only improve during his senior year, when he emerged as one of the best players in the nation.

Clifford was not rated as a high school prospect by the On3 Industry Rankings. He was, however, given a four-star ranking and a 97 grade by On3 when he entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2022-23 season.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Nique Clifford

Because Clifford’s biggest production came late, there are still question marks about just how high his ceiling can be. That had NBA Draft analysts intrigued by him during the pre-draft process.

On3’s James Fletcher provided a complete evaluation before the draft. He wrote:

“Nique Clifford added value throughout the college basketball season, taking himself from the second-round conversation into the first-round mix with improved shooting. He adds offensive punch to his game which already included solid defensive value and big rebounding for his position, along with come playmaking required for his team.”