Donovan Clingan ESPN Interview | 2025 NBA Summer League | Portland Trail Blazers

Donovan Clingan ESPN Interview | 2025 NBA Summer League | Portland Trail Blazers

You’re watching the NBA 2K26 summer league from Thomas and Back Center in the desert. Las Vegas, Nevada, day two of this summer league. Mark Jones courtside along with Tim Leggler, Katie George. Portland taking on the Golden State Warriors after Portland took a huge lead, saw the Warriors rally towards the end of the half. We’re joined now by Portland Blazers center Donovan Kling. And Donovan, here’s Thanks a lot for joining us. And uh thinking about your rookie season that just concluded, what was the biggest adjustment that you feel you had to make early in the season? Um I feel like number one for me was the pace of play and you know how fast the game was. Um, you know, just, you know, these are all high high level athletes flying around the court, you know, moving at a high level. And I feel like coming from college to NBA, that was one of the biggest things is, you know, being able to change floors at, you know, fast pace, fast speed and being able to sustain it for a long time. And, you know, I feel like that was one of the biggest adjustments for me coming into the NBA. Donovan, along those lines, talk about like the progress of your team throughout the season. I just was so impressed with the way you guys played the last couple months of the year. where where did you see the biggest growth as a team? Um, I just feel like we, you know, we really started to, you know, connect and really just started to find out, you know, really each other’s games and how to play well together. Um, and really we locked in on the defensive end. You know, we really bought in defensively, which, you know, carried over to the offensive end and, you know, if we build up on the defensive end and stop, you know, it’s we’re going to be hard to, you know, hard to score against. Donovan, speaking of defensively, can you take us back to your, if you still remember it, your welcome to the NBA moment trying to guard somebody? Was it any one moment, one play? Um, remember? I mean, I there is one definitely one welcome to the NBA moment. Uh, I remember playing in Portland against the Knicks. Uh, Chad had me one-on-one top of the key and got Joey Wright and one-handed dunk. But yeah, that was definitely one one of my welcome to the NBA moments for sure. And I’m sure there’s going to be a moment like that for Young Hansen. Of course. You see, no doubt about it. We all have them. And I’m curious to get your initial thoughts on him. This is our our first look at him in person. Really impressed with his passing. It just seems like his court awareness and his mobility for a big. What What do you like what you’re seeing so far? Yeah, I mean, you know, he’s very talented. I feel like, you know, he could play all around the floor offensively, defensively. I mean, I feel like offensively, he’s he’s got all the aspects to the game. You know, he could step out and shoot the ball. His footwork is very, you know, elite. He can handle. And as you can see, the finish. Look at that. Um, yeah. I mean, you know, offensively, that play right there can tell you can tell you, you know, what he does. And, you know, defensively, just, you know, playing in that job, the activity, you know, his size is, you know, impactful. So, you know, obviously he’s just going to continue to learn and get better and, you know, it’s going to be fun to, you know, play alongside him. Donovan, what kind of expectations have you set for yourself in year two coming up? Um, you know, really just taking next step defensively and, you know, offensively really being able to, you know, help my team score when, you know, needed and, you know, back to the basket when I step shots around the rim. You know, being able to roll out of the ball screen quicker and, you know, stepping out behind the three-point line and knock down the shot. you know, I’ve been working really hard on my shot, making sure you’re keeping it consistent, you know, all summer long. And, you know, I’m really going to go in with a lot of confidence and, you know, show everyone I can shoot. Um, you know, but defensively, it’s, you know, being that protect, you know, that protector that we need. Um, you know, obviously we have a lot of great perimeter defensive defensive and so, you know, it’s just it’s important that, you know, I protect the rim without those guys, you know, pressuring the ball like that. You talk about your offense and expanding your range, the three-point shot. How many how many makes a day from behind the ark for you? I mean I would uh I’d say between you know three 3 to 500 a day I was putting up you know this summer and you know I’m still going to keep putting them up. Okay. I’m sitting beside a shooter. Is that enough? Yeah. That’s I was going to ask you one last one to compare and contrast the intensity levels of Danny Hurley and Chelsea Phillips who’s more demanding. I mean you know it’s I feel like it’s two different games. You know it’s hard to compare. you know, two great coaches that, you know, have taught me a lot and, you know, I’m excited to play, you know, play for Chanty, man. He’s a great coach and, you know, it’s a lot of fun. Well, continued success to you, Donovan, and, uh, thanks a lot for joining us. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate you.

Donovan Clingan joins the ESPN crew from the sideline during Portland’s first Summer League game.

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