Sacramento Kings Rookies Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud Full Press Conference

Sacramento Kings Rookies Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud Full Press Conference

[Applause] Oh man, it’s great to see everybody here again this morning and so excited excited for all of you to be here to welcome the newest members of the Sacramento Kings family, Mr. Nick Clifford and Mr. Max Reol. I first want to recognize the families for for each of these fine gentlemen. Angel and Akai Clifford, Nick’s parents, his agent, Mr. Todd Ramisar, Mr. Mike Samonetta and then for Max his mom all the way from Paris France Vanessa Rainol and his agent Mr. Buna and [Music] as you’ve heard me say many a times since I’ve come here uh it’s important that we establish a real identity here what it means to be a Sacramento Kings basketball player and what what we’re going to stand for. These two guys represent that. for your recollection. Recollection what that means. We want people that are competitive, tough, team oriented, professional, accountable, and disciplined. These two young men have exhibited that not only in their play throughout their careers in college basketball, but in how they’ve conducted themselves as young men off of it. And that’s very important to us. Nick is a very talented and versatile basketball player. That’s what attracted us to him. He can play multiple positions in this game on the perimeter, not only on the offensive end, but he gives you that defensive versatility, too, cuz we really believe he’s going to be able to match up just about anywhere on the perimeter from a defensive standpoint. He has improved each year that he’s been in college basketball. And as I mentioned to you a week ago, that is an important trait that we look for when we’re evaluating talent coming out of the collegiate ranks. Max possesses a very unique combination of size, skill, and ability that really mirrors a lot of the the big players in today’s game of basketball. He’s a double double machine there at Stanford. We think he has a lot of growth and development in front of him and can be very helpful. These two young men we feel are good pieces to help us move forward and establish a very solid uh foundation. I am really excited to watch them play starting this summer uh in Las Vegas uh where they make their introduction to uh Kings Nation. Uh but really excited to have them both here. And with that being said, I’m going to pass it over to the guy who’s going to be tasked with coaching them, and that’s Mr. Doug Christie. For me, for me, pretty simple. First of all, to the family’s welcome. We we appreciate you and to our Sacramento Kings family. Uh I think that you are going to absolutely love the city and uh your young men are in good hands. Um, for them, both of them exhibit everything that Scott has talked about, which for me is like, you know, Scott could have came and said a lot of different things and then went and drafted somebody that didn’t match that. So that is he he crushed that because for us it it means so much more to make sure that these guys exhibit everything that Kings basketball is about and that from the from the jump. Uh getting to sit down with them, go to dinner with them the other night. Uh where did we go?
Water.
Water boy.
Yes. Very good by the way. Yes. Um and I found out that they both like spaghetti.
Yes. large amounts of spaghetti. Yes.
Uh but it it was it was really good to sit with them and and vibe and get to know them on a on a deeper level because that’s for me what a lot of in my opinion coaching is about is to understand them in a way like the X and O’s are one thing but to love them and appreciate them on a different level is really what we’re about here. So um I say to them, welcome your talent. Um you know we’re going to develop you. We’re going to push you hard. Um, I know that that both of you guys are are going to succeed in in in vast ways in the NBA because of what you possess, but even more than that, the people that you are.
Yeah. So, with that, that’s on you, big man. No, I’m definitely very thrilled and honored to be here to be a part of the organization. I want to give a big shout out to, you know, Scott and Doug for just giving me this opportunity. I’m super thankful and blessed to be a part of the organization and what they’re trying to build. Um, you know, I can’t be more ecstatic to be a part of something that I feel like I’ve worked my whole life to be a part of. And so, um, super super excited for the opportunity just to get to work with these guys, you know, Maxine, um, and just a bunch of great teammates. So, uh, we we’ll get to work here soon, but excited to be here and thankful for all of y’all’s support as well, welcoming welcoming me to Sacramento. Um, as Nick said, extremely excited to be a part of this organization. Um, obviously thanking Scott, Doug, and everybody else in the in the entire staff. Um, I think it’s a dream come true for both of us to now play with the pros, have the ability to, you know, bring our talent to a whole new level. Uh, really appreciate you guys for showing support and and love to us today. Um, hopefully we can give that back to you guys by participating to this whole team effort of, you know, building a culture and hopefully win many games. So, thrilled to be here and very excited to start. Now before now before we open it up for questions, I just wanted to give one footnote. I promise you we did not send a memo to have these guys in matching the tie. But this is just one this is this is just one further piece of evidence though the class that these two young men have and they you know that they they came dressed really nice. So uh that even reaffirmed our decision to bring them here. So no but anyway time for any questions. fire away. Nick, coach Faroke Manesh from Colorado State told me about a a joker mentality and a mask on when you when you take the floor. Can you explain a little bit about that and if that’s following you to the NBA?
Yeah. Uh that’s a tattoo I got. Um Joker was my favorite super villain, which is kind of crazy to say, but uh you know, I kind of used it as an alter ego. You know, you see a lot of the great players like Kobe, Michael Jordan, all those people got their alter egos that they basically turn into when they’re on the court. And so for me, it was a mentality to just, you know, be almost a killer when you’re on the court. Like you can’t care what people think about you. You just got to go hard and go do what you’re supposed to do and take care of business. So for me, it was a mentality part of it. And then, you know, Coach Ali definitely helped me um kind of realize that and use that as a as a way to um just go out there and be myself every time I played and don’t care what everybody says on the outside. Uh just let the work speak for itself. Jake Gayen from CBS 13 over here, guys. Max, for you, we hadn’t a chance to talk to you yet after being drafted by the Kings. Were you surprised to be taken 42nd overall by them? And what’s the initial reaction you had being taken by the Kings? Uh, I’m just excited uh and blessed by the opportunity. I think that’s what draft night is about, right? Uh, making a dream come true. And then we talked with Nick, but I was extremely excited to get to the franchise that drafted him too because we already saw each other in a in a workout earlier during the process and we had this what 45 minute conversation in the hot tub after practice. So, it was it was good to see him drafted there, too. Um, it’s close to what’s home for me here, Stanford. Um, and obviously Scott has a massive resume, former player here as well. So, I think we’re in good hands. It’s just nothing but positive. N, excuse me. A quick question about the bling around your neck here. I think everybody is wondering, there’s got to be a story behind this,
man. It was uh, you know, it was actually supposed to be for for the draft and my pendant didn’t come in time. And I told one of the reporter, I don’t know where he’s at, but I told him I told him I was going to wear it to the press conference, so I had to stand on stand on my word. But, you know, it’s uh Clifford the Big Red Dog. You know, my last name, something for the kids that they all love, and you know, it’s kind of represents who I am. So, you know, I had to rock it today, my man. Um, over here on the left, guys, in the back, uh, this question is more for Doug, but maybe Max, if you kind of want to weigh in on this. Uh, so Scott said that you’re a double double machine. You guys are blessed that you already have a double double machine on the team. So, uh, Coach Christie, how do you plan on using Max with Damont Sabonis on the court at the same time? And for Max, uh, how do you feel about playing with Domas?
Well, listen, I I think Max’s talents speak for themselves first and foremost, but rebounding is never something that that you don’t need enough of. um his size, his skill set. I think with Domas can mix in in a big way because Dom shot 40% from above the arc and 50 in the corner. Max just watching him play, he can shoot. Pump face puts the ball on the deck. So now you have playmakers in all the positions. So and that’s kind of what we want to play is positionless basketball with the ability to move the ball around the court and share it. So, I think seamless um you know, Max is going to have to take his bumps and bruises as a rookie. That that’s just how it goes. I think that goes for both of them. But, um I know both of these guys have a have a burning desire to be great. So, um should be should be seamless and easy, but you know, it’s sunny outside today and I’m saying that sitting here, but when it gets down there, we’ll have to see. Yeah,
this is actually a question for both of you. Um, Damonte Sabonis tweeted out, you know, after you guys were after, hey, it’s time to get to work. I just want to know, have y’all met up with him yet and talked to him and, you know, getting an idea of it because I know he looking forward to work playing alongside of you.
Um, I mean, yeah, to to your last point, uh, I think someone I’ve looked up to for the past couple years. Um, I know at Stanford, especially my my sophomore year, we based our offense a lot around the Kings and like the split action they used to have. So, in that regard, yeah, he’s big inspiration for me. Um, I do believe he’s also a big family guy and I think he has time with his family right now. We’re still rookies trying to settle down here in the city. Um, but to your point, yeah, uh, we started working already. I mean, I’ve been here for a couple days. Nick just got cleared as well, so it’s just time for us to go to work and we have the summer league coming up and then preseason is coming really fast as well, so we’ll have plenty of time during season to work out with it. I haven’t got the No, I haven’t got the chance to meet him either. Um, super excited and looking forward to playing with a guy like that. So unselfish, true winner. Um, it just plays basketball the right way. So, you know, I’m very very excited and looking forward to getting to meet him and getting to, you know, build that chemistry with him.
Nick, obviously the long-term goal is for you to be the best all-around player you could be, but where do you see yourself making the biggest impact as a rookie?
Honestly, it’s just finding my way. um you know, finding any way to impact the game, whether that’s defense, rebounding, you know, knocking down shots when I get them and just trying to be impactful every time I step on the court. And whatever my role is, um whatever, you know, coach sees me as and throws me into, uh I feel like I can go do it at a high level. And you know, I just want to be I want to contribute to win it. That’s my ultimate goal. So, whatever that looks like, um, just got to approach every single day as an opportunity to get better and just learn from all the knowledge and guys I have around me. A question for Maxim. What does it mean for you to be drafted so close to Stanford, stay in Northern California, and how might being so close uh maybe easier transition into the NBA? Uh, well, it’s going to make it easier to move my stuff. That’s that’s for sure. Uh but um two two years ago I mean as you may know like in college we have maybe two days like 48 hours for Christmas you know go back to your families and stuff like that. Um I don’t necessarily have the opportunity to go back to Paris just because of the travel right um so two years ago Issa Silva who was one of my teammate who’s from Sacramento um hosted me there for for Christmas and we had the chance to to go watch one of the Kings games. So being drafted here 2 years later made kind of full circle. Uh still extremely grateful for his family and for the new family that we having here. So it it means the world to me. I think it’s going to make the transition a little bit easier. Um and hopefully we can win some some more wins to to California for sure. Hi Scott. Question for you if you don’t mind. Jason here in the middle. They Oh, it is. They
um you uh you got a lot of credit for the kind of the value that that you you seem to have found in these guys in the draft. Um Nick being projected a little bit higher and and Max also being projected a little bit higher. How good do you feel about the value and how important is that in in you know in drafting to to be able to to kind of find um guys like this?
No, I’m I’m extremely excited about it. Feel really good. anytime you can go into the draft and come out with two guys uh where we ended up selecting that you had graded a lot higher uh I think that’s a great thing and you know my years of experience in the NBA uh I’ve seen that pay off a lot. I’ve been a part of that being paid off before. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t really give a lot of credit though to my staff, the entire um front office staff, you know, from my assistant general manager BJ Armstrong to Phil Jabor, Paul Johnson, um Tom Perry, Mark, you name them all, Zack and Marshall, all the analytics guys, Gabe, you this and Alvin Gentry, they were all a big help to me. Penny and Sam. Where’s Penny and Sam? They the process. You need a village to really help you pull something like that off, too, because you take a lot of input. And especially for me coming back into the game after being in you guys seats a little bit and being at ESPN, I wasn’t out as much uh coming into this job. So, they really all were very helpful uh into to making that happen. So, uh excited about it. Doug over here, question for you. You talked about spring, summer league. Any chance you have an idea who will be coaching summer league for you? And then as well, anybody on the current roster that will be competing as well?
Uh the roster will be out uh maybe tomorrow, but the pesh mystery is going to be the head coach um of summer league and as you’ve heard, these two guys will will be on summer league as well. Um, just to echo Scott’s sentiments though, what those guys did was in in the front office was magnificent because u Scott’s Scott’s toted me around to some places and showed me some things that I have a new respect and understanding for for what goes on in there. So to I I say to them as well, well done you guys. Yeah. Uh Nick, um Scott mentioned, you know, after you were drafted, you know, you handled the ball a lot, you know, in those three positions. uh you how do you feel comfortable about playing the point guard position and have you played it over the course of your career?
Yeah, I mean I’ve played I played I grew up playing point guard so I’m I’m comfortable on that position but for me the trajectory my career I’ve been able to play one through three um and so I feel like I can play any of those positions and like I said earlier whatever I’m thrown into I feel like I’m capable of going and doing. Um, but just excited for the opportunity to, you know, learn from, you know, even guys coming in like Dennis Schroeder, um, and different different teammates that I’m gonna have. I’m gonna be able to learn from those guys and get more comfortable in every position. Um, but yeah, I I’m comfortable playing, I’d say, one through three.
Over here on the left, Jeremiah Solomon. Um, for both of you guys, um, Kings fans obviously have a reputation around the NBA being some of the loudest, you know, most rockst Murray chant, uh, things like that. Do you guys expect anything of that to kind of develop around you guys? Maybe something with Clifford, um, or, um, like what are you looking forward to most with the fans and just your NBA experience here in Sacramento? I mean, for me, I’d say I’m excited to light that bean. I’m definitely excited for that. Um, but as well as that, you know, I’ve heard so many great things about the fan base and just how they show you love and I’ve already experienced it being here for two days and just the love they show, the support. Uh, I’m just super excited to be a part of that and be a part of the community. Honestly, getting to know everybody, all the people that come and support us, I want to get to know them and show that love right back to them. Hi, Doug. During the draft, Nick was kind of compared to you and your playing style. When you watch I’m just curious when you watch him in film and and whatnot, does it remind you of yourself a bit?
Um, a bit because when I when I watch him, first of all, he’s got hair, so that that’s that’s that’s well done, sir. Um, but his ability to do so many different things as a coach helps you because there’s ways to keep him on the floor because he can defend, he can rebound, he can shoot, he can handle the basketball. So, um, that was an attribute of mine that I think helped me throughout my career. And you know, latching on defensively, I think for a young player early is probably the greatest way to earn yourself playing time. But his ability to do other things, grab a rebound, push the ball, he’s not selfish, so willing to share the basketball. Um, minus the hair, I I feel you. I feel you used to have
Yeah, I did. I did. I I think you might have too, bro. [Laughter] to uh Brendan Nunes, Socktown Sports right here, guys. What’s going on? Congratulations. Um to Nick and Maxim, just what’s sort of this moment like for you guys? H how much were you eyeing the NBA, you know, throughout your collegiate career and and making it to this moment? Just, you know, you’re sitting here at your NBA introductory press conference. What’s this like for you? Um, I think as any competitor, you want to compete at the highest level. So, I’m pretty sure that’s something both of us been aiming and having as a as a goal for the past many years. Um, also that’s something that you dream about when you’re a kid. I mean, when we went to dinner the other day, we have a three-time NBA champion over there. We have people that play with his favorite player, Kobe Bryant. We’ve had people that coach them, etc., etc. So hearing about these stories make it even more real and make it even more excited for you to to be here now. So I think it was a goal of ours. I’m glad we get there. But once again, it’s it’s not the finish line. This is just the start. Um this is where you have to double down your work. You have to listen even more. You have to adapt. And I think we’re both willing to do that. Yeah, I would agree. Uh to this point, you know, it’s a dream. It’s It still doesn’t even feel real that I’m sitting here right now, but you know, we’ve worked our whole lives for this moment. And so, like you said, it’s just the beginning. Um, but you know, there’s so much more work to be done. But, you know, you got to take it take it all in and be extremely grateful for, you know, the position we’re sitting in cuz it’s probably 0001% chance percent of people in the world that get to do this. So, just being grateful for that opportunity. Um, and then you know just getting back to the back to the drawing board and trying to get better. Um, so yeah,
Doug, question for you and Scott if you want to jump in as well. These are two rookies that took their time developing at the college level before coming into the NBA. What kind of advantages does that present for you to get these guys that are potentially more NBA ready physically, mentally, whatever?
Yeah, I I think there’s a a lot of benefit in that. I I know it’s young young all these different things but but for me like just talking to them you can hear the maturity in their answers you can hear the you know they don’t just answer they they think about what they’re saying not to mention with the NIL and a lot of different things probably financial literacy they’re probably farther along there there are a lot of aspects that I think um when you look at these guys are are going to be beneficial to them uh but one is just understanding like listening to them it This makes me smile because you can hear that that they get it. So, and they’re willing to, you know, you slide across to work in front of them cuz everybody says they want to be great until you slide the work across and then they go, “Ah.” But these guys aren’t doing that. Um, he’s been in the gym, I don’t know how many times. I see him like a lot. So, that’s a good thing. And I know the same thing from Nick. And those are those are qualities that we want. We don’t um What you say, Scott? You want You don’t want prisoners?
No, we want volunteers. We want volunteers, not hostages. We want volunteers, not hostages. That’s right.
No doubt.
And both of these guys are volunteers for sure. So, it makes it makes me smile because I listen to them and I know that they’re about their words. So, um that makes our job a lot easier. And, uh super excited for you guys as fans. Yeah. Uh I guess this is the last question. Uh, Andrew Martin here from Fox 40 again. Question for Nick. You’re going to be wearing number five, right? Did you choose that number? And also, what do you know about the last individual to wear that number here? Yeah, I know there was a little bit of controversy around that number, but um, honestly, it was really just the best available number at first when I was looking at the list. Uh, there’s a lot of retired numbers around here. So, um, I ended up choosing five. And then I started to look deeper into it and I saw the meanings of the number five and it it represented personal growth and change which is kind of what I wanted to embody going into my career. Um just being somebody that stays in the gym and continues to grow myself as a person and a player. And then bib biblically um it represented God’s grace and kindness. And so I felt like it was definitely a fitting number for myself. Uh wore five at my proday actually. So, I’ve worn it once before and had a decent pro day. So, I thought I thought I’d give it a go and we going to we going to make it work. But, you know, there was a great player that definitely wore it. So, uh it’s high expectations on the number, but I’m I’m ready to ready to wear that number.
Thanks everybody. Thanks, guys. Good.
Thank you.
Thank you guys.

The full Sacramento Kings introductory press conference for rookies Nique Clifford & Maxime Raynaud, featuring head coach Doug Christie and general manager Scott Perry.

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