Donovan Clingan Bio
Donovan John Clingan (born February 23, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) and listed at 280 lb (127 kg), the Connecticut native plays the center position and has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young big men in the league. Clingan is best known for winning two consecutive NCAA national championships with the UConn Huskies in 2023 and 2024 before being selected seventh overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Early Life and Background
Clingan was born and raised in Bristol, Connecticut, where he grew up in a close-knit family. His parents are Bill Clingan and Stacey Porrini Clingan, and he has one younger sister, Olivia. His mother, Stacey, was an accomplished basketball player in her own right, setting school records for career rebounds and blocks at Bristol Central High School before playing college basketball at the University of Maine. Sadly, Stacey Clingan passed away from breast cancer in March 2018, an event that has continued to shape the player’s life and career.
Clingan attended Bristol Central High School, where he developed into one of the most dominant big men in the region. He led the Rams boys basketball team to a 2022 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division II state championship. Throughout his high school career, he was a two-time Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, averaging 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game as a junior, followed by 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game as a senior. On July 2, 2021, he committed to playing college basketball at UConn over offers from several major programs, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence, and Rutgers.
Path to Basketball
Clingan’s path to elite-level basketball began on the courts of Bristol, where he learned the game under the guidance of his mother and local coaches. His friendship with UConn football running back Victor Rosa, who also grew up in Bristol and served as Clingan’s high school point guard, helped sharpen his court awareness and passing vision. By the time he finished high school, Clingan was considered one of the top high school prospects in the country.
Arriving at UConn in 2022, Clingan entered his freshman season as the Huskies’ backup center behind Adama Sanogo. Despite the limited role, he earned Big East Conference All-Freshman team honors at the end of the regular season. In the 2023 national championship game, he contributed four points, three rebounds, a block, and two steals as UConn defeated San Diego State 76–59 to win the title. Although many expected Clingan to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft, he elected to return to UConn for his sophomore year to continue developing his game.
Donovan Clingan Career
Early Career (2022–2024)
Clingan’s early career at the collegiate level was defined by rapid development and championship success. As a freshman, he provided valuable depth behind Sanogo and gained experience on a title-winning roster. His decision to return for a sophomore season allowed him to step into a starting role and showcase a more complete skill set.
During his sophomore year, Clingan became UConn’s starting center and was recognized as an AP Honorable Mention All-American in 2024. A foot injury suffered in a December 2023 game against Seton Hall briefly sidelined him, but he returned on January 17, 2024, recording six points and five rebounds in 16 minutes in a win over 18th-ranked Creighton. On April 12, 2024, Clingan declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility after helping UConn capture a second consecutive national championship.
NBA Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Clingan was selected with the seventh overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft. Because his college number 32 had been retired by Portland in honor of Hall of Famer Bill Walton, he chose jersey number 23. He signed his rookie contract on July 4, 2024, joined the Trail Blazers summer league team, and was named to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team.
Clingan made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, in a 140–104 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He earned his first career start on November 12, 2024, in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and followed it up the next night with career highs of 17 points and eight blocks in another victory over Minnesota. At season’s end, he led all rookies in total blocks (110) and blocks per game (1.6), and he became the first Trail Blazers rookie since Damian Lillard to earn All-Rookie honors when he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2025.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2024–Present)
Clingan’s transition into a full-time starter for the Trail Blazers came during the 2025–26 season. On October 21, 2025, Portland exercised its 2026–27 team option on the young center, signaling its long-term commitment to his development. After being passed over for the Rising Stars Challenge during his rookie year, Clingan was selected for the 2026 Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend in Inglewood, California.
He continued to produce at a high level, recording a career-high 28 points in a win against the Indiana Pacers on March 18. By the end of the season, Clingan had set Trail Blazers franchise single-season records for total offensive rebounds (347) and offensive rebounds per game (4.5), while also leading the entire NBA in both categories. He also finished fifth in the league in blocks per game at 1.7, cementing his reputation as one of the most effective interior forces in the game.
Driving Style and Strengths
Clingan is a traditional back-to-the-basket center with rare size and length, capable of anchoring a defense with elite rim protection while also cleaning the offensive glass. His 7 ft 2 in frame, combined with refined footwork and a soft touch around the rim, makes him a reliable lob threat and efficient finisher in pick-and-roll situations. Defensively, his timing and shot-blocking instincts allow him to protect the paint without fouling, while his rebounding prowess on both ends of the floor gives his team extra possessions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Clingan’s most memorable achievements are back-to-back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024, his seventh overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft, and his record-setting 2025–26 season in which he led the league in offensive rebounds. He also became the first Trail Blazers rookie since Damian Lillard to earn NBA All-Rookie honors, underscoring his immediate impact at the professional level.
Donovan Clingan Career Wins
While wins in the traditional box-score sense are a team statistic, Clingan’s career has been marked by championship success and individual accolades. He captured two NCAA national titles with UConn, earned All-Rookie Second Team recognition in 2025, and set franchise records in rebounding during the 2025–26 season. These accomplishments highlight a young career defined by winning contributions and consistent production.
NCAA Highlights
Clingan’s college tenure peaked with consecutive national championships in 2023 and 2024, making him part of one of the most dominant stretches in UConn history. He was named to the Big East All-Freshman team in 2023 and earned AP Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2024, reflecting his growth from a reserve role to a dominant starting center.
Other Performances
Beyond collegiate success, Clingan was named to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team in 2024 and was selected for the 2026 Rising Stars Challenge. His rookie-season totals of 110 blocks and his franchise-record offensive rebounding numbers further cement his standing as one of the top young centers in the NBA.
Donovan Clingan Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Clingan family. His mother, Stacey Porrini Clingan, set school records for career rebounds and blocks at Bristol Central High School before playing college basketball at the University of Maine. His father, Bill Clingan, raised Donovan and his younger sister, Olivia, in Bristol, Connecticut. After Stacey’s passing in March 2018, Clingan chose to wear number 32 in her honor throughout his high school and college careers, a tribute that reflects the central role his mother played in his development as a player.
Personal Life
Clingan remains closely connected to his hometown of Bristol, Connecticut, where his family continues to support his career. He maintains a close friendship with UConn football running back Victor Rosa, his former high school point guard, and frequently credits his mother as his primary basketball inspiration. Off the court, he is known for his grounded personality and commitment to honoring his family’s legacy through his performance on the court.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season marked a major step forward for Clingan as he moved into a full-time starting role with the Portland Trail Blazers. Early in the campaign, Portland exercised its 2026–27 team option, signaling organizational confidence in his long-term fit alongside the team’s emerging core. His selection to the 2026 Rising Stars Challenge in Inglewood, California, was another milestone in a season filled with individual recognition.
Clingan’s statistical profile reached new heights, highlighted by a career-high 28-point performance against the Indiana Pacers on March 18. He set Trail Blazers franchise single-season records for total offensive rebounds (347) and offensive rebounds per game (4.5), while also leading the entire NBA in both categories. Defensively, his 1.7 blocks per game ranked fifth in the league, reinforcing his value as a rim protector.
With a second NBA campaign now in the books and a secure role in Portland’s rotation, Clingan’s outlook remains bright. His combination of size, rebounding, and shot-blocking gives the Trail Blazers a foundational piece to build around, and his continued development suggests he is on track to become one of the most impactful young centers in the league.
