Part II: SACRAMENTO KINGS DRAFT NIQUE CLIFFORD In the 1st Round

.PUBLIC RECORD – 30 –
🎥🎞🎬📽🎙✍️

.T. ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌ ‌|‌ Public Information Officer
🎙✍️📰🗞📰✍🎙

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —‌ The Sacramento Kings didn’t have a 1st-round selection in this year’s NBA Draft, but before the night June 25 was over, they ended up selecting Nique Clifford with the 24th overall pick.

Scott Perry, who was hired as the Kings’ general manager on April 21, made a stunning move to seal the deal, though there had been mentions that the team was looking to get a pick in the 1st round. He did it without any information getting leaked from his office.

“One of the things that I wanted to accomplish this year is to establish an idea of what it means to be a Sacramento Kings basketball player. As a reminder, things that we are going to value here: competitive, tough, team-oriented, accountable, disciplined, and professional,” Perry said following the first round of the draft. “With that, we selected a young man tonight by the name of Nique Clifford from Colorado State, who we believe displays those values that are important to us.”

In a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the exchange was for a protected 2027 1st-round pick from the Kings. Originally owned by the San Antonio Spurs, the pick is top-16 protected, Perry said. Should the pick drop within the protected range, the Thunder will instead collect two second-round picks in 2027.

Dominique Akai “Nique” Clifford, a guard for the Colorado State Rams, averaged 26.3 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks as a senior. He was named 3rd-team All-Mountain West (2023-2024) and 1st-team and defensive team All-Mountain West (2024-2025

The 23-year-old spoke to the local media by ZOOM call after the draft. He shared that it was an emotional moment for him and his family when he received a call from Perry. Clifford was at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where the first round took place.

“I don’t like to usually show my emotions all the time, I don’t cry a lot but I got a little emotional. I got choked up. It was hard for me to talk to him (Perry) on the phone because it didn’t feel real,” Clifford told Publicity Agents. “I definitely shared a couple of tears. Just being able to embrace that moment with my family, all the people that came here to support me, it was a super special moment.”

Initially, the Kings did not have a 1st-round pick, as it was conveyed to the Atlanta Hawks due to lottery protections. The Sacramento Kings have one draft pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Their only pick is in the 2nd round, specifically at No. 42.

The Kings lost their 2025 1st-round NBA draft pick in a trade deal made with the Atlanta Hawks in July 2022. The Kings acquired Kevin Huerter from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Moe Harkless and Justin Holiday.

As part of the Hawks’ deal, the Kings included their 2025 first-round draft pick. The pick was initially lottery-protected in 2024, top-12 protected in 2025, and top-10 protected in 2026.

What’s clear is that the Kings picked another swingman that has a versatility package, Perry said. Clifford can play three positions as the point guard, shooting guard and small forward.

Clifford is touted as a two-way player who joins a crop of players currently on the Kings roster. From his perspective, Perry said Clifford is a prototype player who falls in line with other talent in the Association.

“I think if you look at the league now, it’s about having depth,” Perry said. “You look at the two teams that were in the (NBA) Finals, and the ultimate champion in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, were deep and versatile. Guys who can play multiple positions. This guy played with the ball in his hands. He plays all perimeter positions.

In conclusion, Perry said, “It was important to get the talent in here. The rest will figure itself out. Doug Christie is the coach, and I am confident he will figure that out.”

✍️🎙🎙🎙✍️

– 30 –

#SacramentoKings #TonyRayHarvey #NBA #Sacramento #AntonioRayHarvey #DeAaronFox #Kevin Huerter #SacramentoProud #DomantasSabonis #MalikMonk #KeeganMurray #MikeBrown #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #NBAWesternConference #NBAEasternConference #NBCSportsRadio #NBCSports #KeonEllis #NiqueClifford #ColorodoStateUniversity #2025NBADraft

– Written, Directed, Produced, and Published by T. Ray Harvey, PA’s Public Information Officer 🎙

🎥📽🎬🎞🎙📸✍️🗞📰🎟