After a whirlwind rookie season, Nique Clifford is channeling lessons from DeMar DeRozan to mentor Sacramento's newest draft picks while dominating Summer League with newfound poise and leadership.
Nique Clifford is still a young player heading into his second season, but he has taken on a veteran role in Summer League and is mentoring his rookie teammates.
The Sacramento Kings' rookies -- Darius Acuff Jr., Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp -- are experiencing what Clifford did during his first Summer League. He has taken them under his wing this summer, helping them adjust to the NBA.
"I'm trying to take on some of those leadership qualities," Clifford said. "Being a guy that's been through it once, trying to teach some of the young guys some of the stuff I went through last year."
Clifford was immediately a rotational player for the Kings last season, playing 75 games. He averaged 19.8 minutes from October to January, and his average shot up to 34.2 minutes from February to April.
Season-ending injuries to Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis opened more minutes for the 24th overall pick. Going from bench player to starter midseason is a big jump, but he held his own and made the most of his opportunities.
His growth in the leadership department stems from his increased playing time and the veterans he played with last season. Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan played significant roles in mentoring the young players, helping them grow and see the game from their perspectives.
DeRozan said he felt happy seeing the young players grow before his eyes. The concepts they struggled to understand at the beginning of the season became more familiar toward the end, and it made the 16-year veteran proud.
Clifford was the one learning last season -- and he still has more time to learn -- and this offseason, he's the one mentoring. It's remarkable growth in one season, and his veteran teammates played a role in that.
Throughout Summer League, he has been a consistent pillar for Sacramento. Clifford nailed the game-winning three in the California Classic opener against the Brooklyn Nets and scored 30 points combined against the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards.
His steady presence has given the Kings' rookies someone to lean on as they adjust the NBA. All three have played for prestigious programs that routinely made deep NCAA Tournament runs, but college basketball is slower and less athletic than its professional counterpart.
Summer League was the beginning of Clifford's growth as a mentor, and he'll continue to mature in that role when the regular season arrives, and he'll play alongside the rookie trio for 82 games.
"I'm excited to continue to grow and play with them," Clifford said.
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