The Portland Trail Blazers’ rookie star Donovan Clingan struggled to win over fans and his team during his summer league debut, which ended in an 83-77 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. However, Clingan bounced back and brought all his energy against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Blazers’ first-round pick showed little resistance on the court, particularly during a powerful poster dunk over Adem Bona. This spectacular move electrified the crowd and his teammates, who jumped from their seats in excitement.
Clingan shot 4-for-11 from the field, including 0-for-1 from three-point range. He played 25 minutes in total and recorded 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 8 points. With his supremacy, the Blazers ended the game with a narrow 97-95 win.
Donovan Clingan Shared Dissatisfaction Over His Debut Performance
After the tough loss against the Spurs, Donovan Clingan wasn’t happy, particularly with his performance. Following the game, the rookie star shared his dissatisfaction over his performance in his debut NBA game.
“I wish I had rebounded the ball a little bit better in that first half. But I was able to figure it out in that second half and do better on that end,” he said, per Oregon Live.
Donovan struggled against the Spurs, shooting just 1-for-8. Nevertheless, he grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked five shots in under 30 minutes.
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“No matter how poorly you play on the offensive end, that shouldn’t affect your defense. Defense wins the ballgame. So, you got to protect the rim at a high level. You’ve got to help your team win, and that’s all I want to do. So, I was just trying to be the best defender because I knew offensively tonight was not my night,” Clingan added.
After seeing his performance against Philadelphia, the Blazers team will surely have no doubt over their rookie star.
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