Hoop DossierDonovan Clingan
Portland Trail Blazers · Center · 7′2″ 280 lb · age 22 · UConn · 3rd season
2 games this season
Availability
Next game Tomorrow at LAL. The injury report for it appears the day before.
Season form
2 games this seasonStarts 2 of 2 games · 8th on POR in minutes · Rotation role
Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.
What's being said
28 items · 8 sources this season- Podcast Gil's Arena host · Analysis · around the league
A panelist (inferred to be Danny) says the Blazers roster has too many guards: Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Ja, Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson. He calls the bigs, Donovan Clingan and Williams, solid, and says somebody has to move.
“Sixers Erase A MASSIVE 29-Point Deficit, SGA Ends His Streak & Jaylen Brown Calls CAP On Tatum!_1 Part 2” at 32:12 · listen ↗
- Podcast KG Certified host · Opinion · around the league
Hosts call Portland a legitimate West dark horse. They list the pieces: Deni Avdija as an all-star, Dame, Ja, Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan and Rob Williams.
“Ant & LaMelo Look Dangerous, LeBron Takes On Embiid and KG Believes in Luka’s Lakers | KG CERTIFIED” at 1:08:41 · listen ↗
- Podcast Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective host · Analysis · around the league
McMahon's concern: Morant and Lillard make a backcourt that will be a defensive target. Camara and Clingan might be enough to mask it. He says to 'let it breathe' after one game.
“Luka Gets Called Out As Lakers Dominate + Who Made A Game 1 Statement?” at 41:10 · listen ↗
- Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · name not confirmed around the league
Donovan Clingan set big screens that left Lillard wide open. Portland's guard depth, with wings Camara and Avdija plus point-of-attack defenders Jrue Holiday and Scoot, is called 'almost a perfect Damian Lillard team'.
“The Thunder Are Inevitable + Philly Trusts the Process” at 27:01 · listen ↗
- Podcast Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers · Analysis ·
The Blazers crushed the offensive glass. The host expects this to continue because Donovan Clingan is one of the best at it and Toumani Camara can be an elite crasher.
“Trail Blazers Were Spectacular in Game 1. What's Real & What's Noise After a Special Opening Night?” at 16:50 · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On NBA host · Analysis · around the league
Gavin (inferred) on the Blazers: Deni Avdija had 'highways to drive down'. Jrue Holiday was a perfect connector. Donovan Clingan finished at the rim and shot threes. Scoot Henderson hit a late-clock three.
“GAME NIGHT: Ant/LaMelo SHINE in Debut, Luka talks trash, Ty Jerome goes OFF” at 19:15 · listen ↗
- Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · around the league
S. Baraheni says screening from Donovan Clingan is opening things up for both Morant and Lillard, while noting the pairing will have defensive issues.
“Wolves Make a Big Statement in Miami + Luka’s Showtime Era Begins” at 15:07 · listen ↗
- X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report ·
"(Donovan) Clingan hit a couple. Then Ja (Morant) hit one, Deni (Avdija) hit one I think from the right side. Those felt like they were contested and then we couldn't any force offensively. They were great, they were physical defensively. Their big was back in drop. Got to make a
- Podcast Ja Morant (reported), via Locked On Blazers · Relayed report ·
Morant said he and Donovan Clingan got juiced up by the crowd during Lillard's pregame address.
“Trail Blazers Scorch Suns in Season Opener | Damian Lillard's Return to Portland & Ja Morant's Debut” at 7:10 · listen ↗
- X Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) · Report ·
AVAILABLE: Deni Avdija (right ankle soreness) and Micah Potter (illness). Blazers starting lineup: Ja Morant Damian Lillard Deni Avdija Toumani Camara Donovan Clingan #RipCity
also reported by Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers
- Podcast The Athletic NBA Daily host · Analysis · around the league
In Portland's defensive lineups with Ja and Dame, there is heavy pressure on Avdija ('Denny'), Camara and Clingan to clean everything up.
“BIG NBA Questions: Slam N Jam LIVE!” at 32:23 · listen ↗
- Podcast Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers · Analysis ·
The host thinks Robert Williams III is the most positively impactful center when he's on the court, but how much he can play in any one game is limited. Donovan Clingan is probably better overall because he can play more. No reason for Williams' limit is given.
“Trail Blazers vs. Suns Season Opener Preview | Bold Predictions and The Disappearing Lineup Trick” at 27:19 · listen ↗
- Podcast Hardwood Knocks host · Analysis · around the league
Donovan Clingan has started shooting threes; Mort says a big third year from him would most improve his Blazers outlook.
“1 Big Question For Every NBA Teams In The Western Conference” at 41:55 · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Blazers · Analysis · wording unclear in audio
The guest says a defense ranked around 14th-18th, or league-average defense in core lineups with Donovan Clingan on the floor or Ja Morant off it, should be the goal.
“Trail Blazers Outlook: Adding Ja Morant, Scoot Henderson's Upside, Deni Avdija's Ascension and More” at 28:41 · listen ↗
- Podcast Mike Richman, Locked On Blazers · Report ·
After-timeout play: Lillard set a back screen for Toumani Camara, then came off a Clingan screen toward the right wing. The host thinks the play was designed to get Lillard a three, but Jrue Holiday hit Camara on an alley-oop dunk.
“What We Have (Not) Learned About Deni Avdija, Damian Lillard & Ja Morant in Trail Blazers Preseason” at 25:08 · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Blazers · 5 points ·
- Mike Richman: Donovan Clingan has shot far fewer threes in the first two preseason games. He shot a lot of them at FanFest, where coach Micah Nori was kind of messing with him. at 18:29
- Mike Richman (reported): The host speculates that this coaching staff wants Donovan Clingan to be pickier about taking threes than last year, when he had a heavier green light. The host says this rests only on about three quarters of exhibition play and an offhand comment from the coach. at 18:42
- Mike Richman: The host says Donovan Clingan has been mostly bad at finishing at the rim. He calls finishing a swing skill and probably the only skill on his list that also raises the team's ceiling, because the team will rely heavily on Clingan. at 19:35
- Mike Richman: Morant threw a no-look pass in semi-transition to Donovan Clingan for a bucket at the rim. He also threw lobs to Clingan. at 25:44
- Mike Richman: The host says Morant has been active on defense this preseason, chasing steals and playing with energy and purpose. He got a steal against the Lions, but Donovan Clingan immediately turned the ball over. at 20:54
“Trail Blazers Roll Over London Lions | Portland's Biggest Swing Skills” · listen ↗
- Podcast Locked On Blazers · 8 points ·
- Host prediction: the Blazers will start the same five they started in preseason, at least to begin the season: Ja Morant, Lillard (heard "Damian Lord"), Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan. at 16:34
- In preseason game one, the first subs at the under-seven timeout were Jrue Holiday and Sidy Cissoko. The resulting lineup was Ja Morant, Holiday, Camara, Cissoko and Clingan. at 16:53
- Preseason game one, second sub: Avdija (heard "Denny") came back in for Camara (heard "Tumani"), and Robert Williams III came in for Clingan (heard "Donovan Klingon"). at 17:01
- Preseason game one: the Blazers started the second quarter with Scoot, Lillard, Avdija, Vit Krejci and Clingan. Krejci saw his first action as the 10th man. at 17:43
- Play from preseason game one: Avdija got a hit-ahead and swung the ball to Clingan (heard "Donovan Klingen") at the top of the key. That flowed into Chicago action: Camara (heard "Tumani") set a corner pin-down for Morant, who took the handoff and got downhill to the rim. at 8:49
- Host analysis: Avdija and Morant are best in the open floor. Camara and Rob Williams can be good transition players. Clingan maybe not, and Holiday probably not, though he won't be terrible. at 15:07
- Host opinion: he liked the early pairing of Ja Morant and Robert Williams III. He calls Williams a good rim roller and a much better offensive player than Clingan right now. at 17:56
- Host opinion: he didn't like the Morant– Sidy Cissoko minutes. He calls Cissoko a bad offensive player and a non-shooter, and says pairing Ja with Cissoko and Clingan ("D.C.") looks like a clogged-paint problem. at 18:52
“Can the Trail Blazers Find Their Best Lineups In Preseason? | A Sabonis Comes to Portland” · listen ↗
Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.
Game log
● = started2026-27 season
| Date | Opp | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23 | @SAC W | 19 min | 8 pts | 10 reb | 3 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 21 | PHX W | 21 min | 11 pts | 7 reb | 2 ast | 2 3PM |
2025-26 season (last season) · 83 games
| Date | Opp | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | 3PM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28 | @SAS L | 27 min | 10 pts | 5 reb | 6 ast | 2 3PM |
| Apr 26 | SAS L | 14 min | 5 pts | 6 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Apr 24 | SAS L | 20 min | 7 pts | 11 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Apr 21 | @SAS W | 24 min | 9 pts | 10 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Apr 19 | @SAS L | 22 min | 4 pts | 7 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Apr 14 | @PHX W | 29 min | 2 pts | 11 reb | 4 ast | 0 3PM |
| Apr 12 | SAC W | 24 min | 13 pts | 10 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Apr 10 | LAC W | 28 min | 18 pts | 13 reb | 2 ast | 3 3PM |
| Apr 8 | @SAS L | 28 min | 11 pts | 11 reb | 5 ast | 3 3PM |
| Apr 6 | @DEN L | 30 min | 18 pts | 12 reb | 0 ast | 3 3PM |
| Apr 2 | NOP W | 22 min | 4 pts | 9 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 31 | @LAC W | 29 min | 4 pts | 4 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 29 | WAS W | 21 min | 6 pts | 5 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 27 | DAL L | 32 min | 6 pts | 17 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 25 | MIL W | 25 min | 14 pts | 15 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 23 | BKN W | 24 min | 7 pts | 15 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 22 | @DEN L | 25 min | 18 pts | 13 reb | 1 ast | 4 3PM |
| Mar 20 | @MIN W | 31 min | 21 pts | 12 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 18 | @IND W | 25 min | 28 pts | 13 reb | 2 ast | 3 3PM |
| Mar 16 | @BKN W | 24 min | 14 pts | 11 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 15 | @PHI L | 28 min | 11 pts | 15 reb | 5 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 13 | UTA W | 35 min | 21 pts | 15 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 10 | CHA L | 26 min | 11 pts | 11 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 8 | IND W | 24 min | 9 pts | 11 reb | 3 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 6 | @HOU L | 25 min | 18 pts | 13 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Mar 4 | @MEM W | 12 min | 7 pts | 9 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Mar 1 | @ATL L | 31 min | 15 pts | 15 reb | 5 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 28 | @CHA L | 26 min | 7 pts | 8 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Feb 24 | MIN L | 36 min | 11 pts | 16 reb | 5 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 22 | @PHX W | 31 min | 23 pts | 13 reb | 3 ast | 3 3PM |
| Feb 20 | DEN L | 19 min | 15 pts | 9 reb | 2 ast | 3 3PM |
| Feb 12 | @UTA W | 31 min | 23 pts | 18 reb | 7 ast | 0 3PM |
| Feb 11 | @MIN L | 28 min | 8 pts | 9 reb | 1 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 9 | PHI W | 28 min | 15 pts | 7 reb | 3 ast | 3 3PM |
| Feb 7 | MEM W | 36 min | 20 pts | 19 reb | 3 ast | 2 3PM |
| Feb 6 | MEM W | 25 min | 13 pts | 17 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Feb 3 | PHX L | 27 min | 14 pts | 15 reb | 3 ast | 3 3PM |
| Feb 1 | CLE L | 27 min | 8 pts | 12 reb | 5 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 30 | @NYK L | 22 min | 7 pts | 6 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 27 | @WAS L | 30 min | 14 pts | 20 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 26 | @BOS L | 28 min | 9 pts | 15 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 23 | TOR L | 29 min | 13 pts | 16 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 22 | MIA W | 27 min | 7 pts | 8 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 18 | @SAC W | 37 min | 21 pts | 17 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 17 | LAL W | 27 min | 18 pts | 11 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 15 | ATL W | 28 min | 9 pts | 12 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 13 | @GSW L | 22 min | 7 pts | 9 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Jan 11 | NYK L | 30 min | 8 pts | 8 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 9 | HOU W | 33 min | 8 pts | 15 reb | 6 ast | 0 3PM |
| Jan 7 | HOU W | 31 min | 12 pts | 7 reb | 3 ast | 2 3PM |
| Jan 5 | UTA W | 33 min | 12 pts | 17 reb | 2 ast | 2 3PM |
| Jan 3 | @SAS W | 34 min | 24 pts | 12 reb | 4 ast | 3 3PM |
| Jan 2 | @NOP W | 30 min | 11 pts | 15 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 31 | @OKC L | 17 min | 6 pts | 5 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Dec 29 | DAL W | 29 min | 18 pts | 11 reb | 1 ast | 2 3PM |
| Dec 28 | BOS W | 34 min | 18 pts | 18 reb | 1 ast | 1 3PM |
| Dec 26 | LAC L | 25 min | 10 pts | 8 reb | 4 ast | 3 3PM |
| Dec 23 | ORL L | 34 min | 8 pts | 14 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 22 | DET L | 34 min | 17 pts | 10 reb | 2 ast | 2 3PM |
| Dec 20 | @SAC W | 30 min | 14 pts | 14 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Dec 18 | SAC W | 35 min | 19 pts | 8 reb | 4 ast | 2 3PM |
| Dec 14 | GSW W | 22 min | 3 pts | 10 reb | 3 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 3 | @CLE W | 25 min | 5 pts | 13 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Dec 2 | @TOR L | 21 min | 11 pts | 11 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 26 | SAS L | 26 min | 9 pts | 11 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 24 | @MIL W | 27 min | 14 pts | 11 reb | 4 ast | 2 3PM |
| Nov 23 | @OKC L | 20 min | 8 pts | 8 reb | 2 ast | 2 3PM |
| Nov 21 | @GSW W | 27 min | 22 pts | 10 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 19 | CHI L | 34 min | 17 pts | 21 reb | 4 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 18 | PHX L | 23 min | 9 pts | 12 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 16 | @DAL L | 28 min | 16 pts | 11 reb | 2 ast | 2 3PM |
| Nov 14 | @HOU L | 24 min | 9 pts | 8 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 12 | @NOP W | 27 min | 9 pts | 10 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 10 | @ORL L | 29 min | 2 pts | 9 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Nov 8 | @MIA L | 21 min | 13 pts | 7 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 5 | OKC W | 25 min | 7 pts | 8 reb | 0 ast | 1 3PM |
| Nov 3 | LAL L | 18 min | 2 pts | 4 reb | 0 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 31 | DEN W | 24 min | 5 pts | 15 reb | 1 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 29 | @UTA W | 28 min | 5 pts | 7 reb | 4 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 27 | @LAL W | 26 min | 16 pts | 14 reb | 2 ast | 0 3PM |
| Oct 26 | @LAC L | 24 min | 9 pts | 10 reb | 3 ast | 1 3PM |
| Oct 24 | GSW W | 22 min | 14 pts | 8 reb | 2 ast | 1 3PM |
| Oct 22 | MIN L | 30 min | 8 pts | 6 reb | 1 ast | 2 3PM |
How his numbers change by situation, with four seasons of history →
Predictions about him
how calls are trackedCame true 2
- Came true Mike Richman: Clingan starts against Phoenix if Avdija plays.
2026-10-21 · Podcast · for vs PHX, 2026-10-22 · result: started, 21 min Flag - Came true Mike Richman: Donovan Clingan will start for Portland to begin the season.
2026-10-12 · Podcast · for vs PHX, 2026-10-22 · result: started, 21 min Flag