Was the Sacramento Kings rookie a little awe struck in sharing the floor with the NBA legend?
Nique Clifford cemented his name as the leading scorer of the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night -- with LeBron James watching too.
The Los Angeles Lakers star and NBA legend was on the same floor during Clifford's breakout 26-point night inside Crypto Arena. James often had to switch and defend the suddenly consistent sharp shooter.
James' Lakers still took the 128-104 rout of the rival Kings. But was Clifford a little on the awe struck side with facing a player he grew up watching?
"Yeah, it's crazy," Clifford said postgame when asked what it was like facing James. "I mean, you grow up watching them. LeBron was in the league before I was born probably. It's crazy to play against him now."
He admires how the four-time NBA champ is still a force in the league even past his 40s.
"For him to still be doing what he's doing at that age is super impressive," Clifford said.
Still, Clifford admitted the surreal moment of playing against James after so many years of watching him and compartmentalizing his game.
"To be on the same floor, I feel like I belong, but it's still pretty dope to be out there with guys of that category," Clifford said.
Granted, James isn't the first NBA great the 2025 first rounder Clifford shared the floor with. He's inside a facility with two other legends.
He's learned and gained nuggets from two other perennial all-stars in Russell Westbrook plus DeMar DeRozan. And he's absorbed so much from both plus watching James in action. But what's the biggest thing he's learned in scrutinizing the older more decoated players?
"Just the simplicity of their game. Their game is simple," Clifford began. "They get to their spots, they make the right plays. ... That's the level I want to get to.
Clifford added: "Getting to go against guys like that, you see how consistent they are on a daily basis with their routines and with their play every single night. You're gonna get mostly the same thing every single night. That's something I've got to get to, but going against guys like that has helped me learn and grow."
Clifford's 26-point outburst became his best scoring output since Feb. 7 -- when he delivered 30 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers despite the loss.
Clifford is averaging only 7.3 points per game while second rounder Maxime Raynaud has delivered the stronger production. But his game flashed on Sunday -- this time with the longtime face of the league James watching and defending.
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