Isaiah Stevens on signing two-way contract with the Kings, relationship with Nique Clifford

Isaiah Stevens on signing two-way contract with the Kings, relationship with Nique Clifford

is this opportunity for you and just to be out here with us? No man, uh I’m blessed first and foremost. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity from the organization. Uh I’m excited to get out here and just compete. Uh bring all the best qualities that I can to the team and just try to help in any way I can. Any trash talking to Nick or any of that stuff out here? Of course. Uh but that’s my brother though. Like we spent a lot of time together in college. We stayed in touch uh consistently throughout this past year. Like that’s somebody I really lean on and I talk to on a daily basis. So, uh, I’m excited to be able to be back in the same locker room as you. Awesome. And then, you know, someone like you being around 6 foot, I think you’re listed as, uh, you know, even though that’s considered short in NBA terms, you’re a dynamic player. What do you do you feel like you have a chip on your shoulder? You have to constantly prove yourself out there. Absolutely. Uh, and I’ve felt that way since I was very young. Uh, cuz I’ve been a point guard my whole life. So, uh, I think that’s something that I’ve been able to really lean into. uh somebody who really uh takes pride in understanding the game, being able to get guys involved, but also being able to make plays regardless of size, athleticism. Uh and so far to this point, I’ve been able to show that. What was what was last year like for you? What do you feel like you learned throughout, you know, first year getting time in the G- League? You’re still putting up good assist numbers. Just what did you kind of learn about the NBA game and yourself? You feel like? Uh I think it was a great learning experience for me. Uh the Heat organization is a great one. I’m extremely grateful for the time I spent there. Uh and I just learned more and more about the ins and outs. It’s more so the routines, the day-to-day uh the day-to-day actions that goes into really being an NBA player. Uh so I was extremely grateful for the vest that we had. Uh the G- League team was great for me. I got to go out there and really like just get those live onc court reps and I needed that. So I was grateful for that. A lot of people talk about the cohesiveness with like, you know, Sou Falls and Miami and just kind of that heat culture. What do you pull from that maybe to add to what you do? It definitely is one big family. Uh they’re definitely tuned in to those games up there. Uh they’re reaching out text messages, phone calls. Uh you never feel like you’re that far apart from them even though distance-wise it might seem like that. So uh they were always tuned in giving us pointers, things that we can improve on. Uh but that heat culture is real. Uh they go to work down there. They do a great job of just on a daily basis making sure that you got your heart head on. So uh it was a good learning experience for me. And then with me, like how how have you seen him grow from your time playing with him and and what do you think about this opportunity he has? I think even more so just his confidence. He’s been talented since I first met him. He was a senior in high school. Uh when he took a visit up to Colorado State my freshman year. So even since then watching him play, he’s always had the talent and the ability. But uh when the confidence goes along with it and where you’re actually walking in that on a daily basis, uh you can be really special. And so he definitely has an opportunity here to go out there and uh really make an impact. Is it a hard pitch to get him to Colorado State? I know he didn’t go there first. I think at first maybe a little bit. I thought we had him. I don’t know. He was playing video games the whole time on his visit, so I thought it was pretty pretty locked in. But uh the second time around, uh I felt he wanted somewhere where he could be himself. Uh and we just had a a great opportunity for him there. So I’m sure it wasn’t just one thing that he was looking for. Uh but I’m glad we had multiple and he made us a much better team. Yeah. And it seems like you’re going to sign a two-way here. Just kind of what what’s that been like for you getting this next step of the process and what’s their messaging been to you about what they want to see? Yeah, man. Uh like I said, I’m extremely grateful for that uh opportunity, but I just got to go out there and be myself. Uh be a point guard, run the show, uh be a pest on the defensive end, uh continue to just find ways to impact the game on both sides of the floor. Use my quickness, use my hands, uh and just be confident in myself when I’m out there.

Sacramento Kings 2025 Summer League new two-way guard Isaiah Stevens spoke with reporters Tuesday afternoon following their practice.

He discussed his relationship with Nique Clifford (they played together at Colorado State, making an impact as a passer, his rookie season with the Miami Heat, and more.

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