Donovan Clingan is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA. Born on February 23, 2004, in Bristol, Connecticut, he stands 7 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds.
Early Life and Education
Clingan attended Bristol Central High School, where he led the basketball team to a Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division II state championship in 2022. He was named the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year in both his junior and senior years, averaging 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game as a junior, and 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game as a senior.
He committed to the University of Connecticut (UConn) in July 2021, choosing the Huskies over offers from several other programs.
College Career at UConn
During his freshman year (2022–2023), Clingan appeared in all 39 games for UConn, averaging 6.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, with a field goal percentage of 65.5%. He had four double-doubles, including career highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds in games against LIU and Providence.
In his sophomore year (2023–2024), Clingan started 33 of 35 games, improving his averages to 13.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game, with a field goal percentage of 63.9%. He earned All-Big East Tournament honors and was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2023.
Clingan was instrumental in UConn’s back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024.
Professional Career with the Portland Trail Blazers
Clingan declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the seventh overall pick. He signed with the team on July 4, 2024. Clingan made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, in a game against the Golden State Warriors.
In his rookie season, Clingan has shown significant promise. In a game against the Washington Wizards, he recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. He is averaging 6.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game, with a field goal percentage of 54.6%.
Notably, Clingan achieved a career-high 20 rebounds in a game against the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first Trail Blazers rookie since 1985 to reach that milestone. His defensive presence has also been recognized by NBA stars; Kevin Durant praised Clingan’s impressive wingspan and defensive skills after facing him in a game.
Personal Life
Clingan is the son of Bill and Stacey Porrini Clingan. His mother, Stacey, played basketball at Bristol Central High School, setting records for career rebounds and blocks, and later at the University of Maine. She passed away from breast cancer in March 2018. In honor of his mother, Clingan wore number 32 during his time at Bristol Central and UConn, a number she also wore.
For more updates and insights into Donovan Clingan’s career, you can follow him on Instagram at @donovanclingan.