Nique Clifford: Stats, Trade, Draft, College, Height, Contract and Age

Nique Clifford is an American professional basketball player who plays in the NBA. The versatile guard-forward attracted attention after an impressive college career at Colorado State and was selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. He began his professional career with the Sacramento Kings before making headlines with a major trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder in November 2026.

Clifford’s combination of scoring, rebounding, playmaking and defensive ability makes him an interesting young player to watch. His NBA journey has already included a first-round draft selection, a productive rookie season and a change of team.

Who Is Nique Clifford?

Nique Clifford, whose full name is Dominique Akai Clifford, is an American basketball player born on February 9, 2002, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams before entering the NBA. His performances at Colorado State helped establish him as a strong prospect in the 2025 draft class.

Clifford was selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. He initially joined the Sacramento Kings and later moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder in November 2026.

Nique Clifford Stats

Clifford recorded an impressive rookie campaign with Sacramento during the 2025-26 NBA season. He appeared in 75 games and averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

His ability to contribute in different areas made him a useful rotation player.

Nique Clifford’s NBA statistics:

These numbers highlight his all-around contributions during his first NBA season.

In the early part of the 2026-27 season, his playing time became more limited. He averaged 1.6 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists across his first eight appearances, according to the available season statistics.

Nique Clifford Trade: What Happened?

Nique Clifford was traded from the Sacramento Kings to the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 8, 2026.

The Thunder acquired Clifford in exchange for two second-round draft picks. The move brought the young guard back to the franchise that originally selected him in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Oklahoma City added Clifford to strengthen its roster depth, particularly with injuries affecting several important players. His versatility and experience from his rookie season could provide the Thunder with another option in the backcourt and on the wing.

For Clifford, the trade represents a fresh opportunity to establish a bigger role with a new team.

Nique Clifford Draft: When Was He Selected?

Clifford entered the 2025 NBA Draft after completing his college career at Colorado State.

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 24th overall pick in the first round. However, his draft rights were subsequently moved to Sacramento as part of a draft-night trade.

He therefore began his NBA career with the Kings rather than the Thunder.

His first-round selection reflected the value teams placed on his versatility, experience and ability to contribute in several statistical categories.

Nique Clifford College: Where Did He Play?

Clifford played college basketball at two universities: the University of Colorado and Colorado State University.

He spent three seasons with the Colorado Buffaloes before transferring to Colorado State.

His final college season was particularly impressive. During the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged:

• 18.9 points per game.
• 9.6 rebounds per game.
• 4.4 assists per game.
• 1.2 steals per game.

He also shot approximately 50% from the field, 38% from three-point range and 78% from the free-throw line.

His performances helped Colorado State reach the NCAA Tournament. Clifford’s ability to score, rebound and create opportunities for teammates made him one of the team’s most important players.

Nique Clifford Height and Weight

Nique Clifford is listed at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 metres) tall. His listed playing weight is approximately 210 pounds (95 kilograms).

His size allows him to compete against different types of guards and wings. He can also use his physical strength to contribute as a rebounder.

Clifford’s combination of height, athleticism and ball-handling ability gives him positional versatility.

Nique Clifford Contract: How Much Does He Earn?

Clifford signed a two-year contract worth approximately $6.37 million with the Sacramento Kings in July 2025.

The agreement included a team option worth approximately $3.42 million for the 2027-28 season. Sacramento exercised that option in October 2026.

Following his November 2026 trade, Clifford moved to the Oklahoma City Thunder with his existing contract.

His contract provides the Thunder with a young player under team control beyond the current season. The agreement also gives him an opportunity to develop while contributing to a competitive roster.

Nique Clifford Age and Birthday

Nique Clifford was born on February 9, 2002. He is 24 years old as of November 2026.

He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he attended The Vanguard School before beginning his college basketball career.

Despite being relatively young in his professional career, Clifford already has several seasons of college experience and an NBA rookie campaign behind him.

What Makes Nique Clifford an Interesting NBA Player?

Clifford’s biggest strength is his ability to contribute beyond scoring.

He can rebound, handle the basketball, make passes and defend multiple positions. His college performances demonstrated that he could take on significant offensive responsibility.

His rookie season with Sacramento also showed that he could contribute at the NBA level.

The move to Oklahoma City offers a different opportunity. If he earns consistent minutes, he could develop into a useful rotation player for the Thunder.

Conclusion

Nique Clifford has already experienced an eventful start to his NBA career. From playing college basketball at Colorado and Colorado State to being selected 24th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, he has steadily progressed through the professional ranks.

His rookie season with Sacramento demonstrated his potential as an all-around contributor. Following his November 2026 trade to Oklahoma City, Clifford now has a new opportunity to establish himself with the Thunder.

His development, playing time and contributions will be important storylines to follow during the 2026-27 NBA season.