Donovan Clingan reveals the biggest difference between the NBA and college

As the Portland Trail Blazers prepare for the new NBA season, they will be tasked with becoming more competitive this time around. They finished last season with a 21-61 record, finishing in last place in the Western Conference.

But Portland feels good about their chances for growth this year, even if they're unlikely to contend for a title. They have a good, young cast of players who they believe can develop into strong NBA players down the road.

One of the key younger players Portland is excited about is rookie center Donovan Clingan. Portland selected Clingan with the No. 7 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and they value him highly.

He played in their preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers over the weekend and looked good in his minutes. But he quickly realized how different the NBA was from his college days.

Clingan explained the difference and noted the biggest change between the two leagues.

“It’s a lot more physical,” he said. “These guys are strong. They are much older.”

If Clingan is going to be as good as the Trail Blazers imagine, he needs to be more physical. He has the tools to be a very successful NBA player, but he needs to show consistency over the course of his season.

“I thought it was great to be out there competing against a team other than our guys,” Clingan said. “It felt good. But there are definitely things I could have done better. But it gave me a good feeling for what it's going to be like this year. And since this is my first game, I’m excited.”

Clingan will compete for minutes this season with centers Robert Williams III, Deandre Ayton and Duop Reath. Portland has strong frontcourt depth and they will look to use it to their advantage.

The former Uconn star commented on his performance, saying his conditioning was strong early in the game. It seemed to give him an edge in the competition.

“I think I handled it pretty well,” he said. “My conditioning feels great. Just up and down the floor, multiple trips. I didn’t really get tired.”

If Portland is to develop into a contender, much of its success will come from the rookie. He is given chances to succeed and has to show what he can do.

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