The Portland Trail Blazers have completed their 2024-25 season in style, earning a 36-46 record and an honorable mention in the “upcoming teams in the Western Conference” category. As the off-season progresses, we’re reviewing the years of Portland’s players. We’ve already talked about the ups and downs of Scoot Henderson and the high-flying season of Shaedon Sharpe. Today we’re going to look at a rookie who had a pronounced effect on Portland’s defense, Donovan Clingan.

The Good

Averaging 1.6 blocked shots per game is pretty impressive. Clingan is tied with Cavaliers center Evan Mobley for the 5th and 6th positions in the league in per-game blocks this season. Top 5 in anything isn’t bad for a rookie. But everyone else in the Top 10 averaged 27 or more minutes per game. Most played 30+. Clingan didn’t even break 20. He swatted away 1.6 shots per game in just 19.8 minutes. His 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes is second only to Victor Wembanyama. 4.0 blocks per 100 possessions leads the league.
Rebounding tells a similar story. 7.9 rebounds per game seems pedestrian, but with Clingan’s playing time that equates to 14.3 rebounds per 36 and 19.3 per 100 possessions, both of which rank 6th in the NBA. Clingan ranks 2nd in offensive rebounds in per-minute and per-possession categories as well.
Clingan has the best defensive rating of any Trail Blazers player in the regular rotation this year. The Blazers are 4.4 points better on defense per 100 possessions with Clingan in the game. Their effective field goal percentage allowed is 3.0% better as well. Those are big-time numbers, especially for a rookie.
Clingan’s 53.9% overall field goal percentage is plenty good. If you squint sideways, even his 28.6% three-point percentage isn’t bad for a guy who wasn’t expected to shoot any at all. Fellow center Deandre Ayton shoots only 18.8%. Bona fide guard Shaedon Sharpe is at 31.1%. Eclipsing Ayton and approaching Sharpe is a feat.

The Bad

The occasional three-pointer aside, Clingan’s offense only looks good when he’s within three feet of the hoop. That’s not a broad characterization; it’s literal. He shoots 68% at a range of 0-3 feet, dropping to 33.8% between 3-10 feet. If he can’t reach the rim with his fingertips he’s not a good bet to shoot the ball.
Clingan leads the league—#1 overall, the head honcho, the top dog—in fouls committed per minute and per possession. He is the Victor Wembanyama of fouling people. Former Blazers center Zach Collins used to be a foul machine. Clingan makes him look like an amateur.
Clingan’s defensive prowess is considerable, but it fades when he has to chase to the perimeter. Watching him close out on corner shooters or try to cover a fast-moving screen play at the diagonals is painful. He’s got the right moves. They just don’t go quick enough. He’s not as bad as some centers—cough, Rudy Gobert, cough—but at this point it’s fair to describe his defense as situational.

The Analysis

Clingan had an enormously successful year, one of the brighter rookie performances we’ve seen in a while. His presence on the court was noticeable. His imposing height and frame, his defensive instincts, the blocks…he already has a signature. Team and game both change when he takes the floor.

The difference between per-minute/possession results and aggregate tell you everything you need to know about Clingan right now. Some will say, “[Head Coach] Chauncey Billups should have played him more! Then he’d average those four blocks per game!” That’s not likely. The reasoning is inverted. Clingan performed so well in such concentrated minutes because those minutes were generally spent in favorable conditions for him. When he started seeing more regular duty rotation minutes towards the end of the season, the most consistent carry-over was the fouls.

Donovan Clingan is really good at the things Donovan Clingan is really good at. Beyond that circle—skill set and range on the floor—his utility drops off considerably.

This is more than most rookies achieve, however. You can look up and down Portland’s roster for examples of players who took a long time to make a distinct impact on the floor or, in some cases, never have. Clingan is everything the Blazers could have hoped for from a mid-lottery pick in a fairly weak draft. Well done all around.

What’s Next

Translating Clingan’s specific impact across through minutes, more opponents, and more spots on the floor is the next step forward. It’s a big one, and not guaranteed. Clingan faces the same challenge as Gobert, Zach Edey, and other large centers in the modern game. The same characteristics that make him imposing in one style and position become weaknesses in others.

Specifically, Clingan could work on upper body strength, arms and grip, to control the ball better. His core strength seems adequate, but more never hurts. He is best when he’s moving in free space across the court. Being able to leverage and grind large opponents would give him another sphere of influence. The way his body looks at next fall’s training camp may speak volumes about his readiness.

Beyond that, developing some consistency in footwork and some kind of go-to offensive move will be a priority. Clingan doesn’t have to be Hakeem Olajuwon, but getting to a Robin Lopez level would help.

Beyond that, we’re going to need to see another season before we know Donovan’s ceiling. He’s ahead of the curve now, as far as I can tell, but that doesn’t mean his potential is limitless. Making the leap between situational role-player and starter is difficult, let alone between role-player and team keystone. The Blazers would love Clingan to be that cornerstone on defense for years to come. He’ll have to grow into that suit, but early returns indicate that he might just be big enough to fit it.