After ESPN ranked players 100 though 50 on their top 100 NBA players list, longtime writer and noted Seattleite Kevin Pelton wrote that Portland Trail Blazers second-year center Donovan Clingan should get consideration for the list next year:
As a rookie, Clingan was immediately one of the NBA’s top rim protectors. He swatted 7.5% of opponent 2-point attempts while on the court, second in the league to Victor Wembanyama. Clingan’s offensive game is still a work in progress and he averaged only 19.8
minutes. Portland buying out Deandre Ayton opens up a starting role for Clingan, who averaged double-figure rebounds (10.0 per game) in 37 starts last season. If he averages a double-double and 2-plus blocks, Clingan should sneak into the top 100.
Also making Pelton’s could-become-top-100 list were the Piston’s Ausar Thompson, the Spurs’ Dylan Harper, and the Bulls’ Josh Giddey.
During his end-of-season interview to conclude his rookie campaign a few months ago, Clingan said he wanted to work on getting lighter on his feet, his touch around the rim, and knock down threes at a high level, among other goals.
Clingan averaged 6.5 points, 7.9 boards, and 1.6 blocks during his rookie season in 19.8 minutes per game.
