As the Portland Trail Blazers get ready 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, landing them at the bottom of the Western Conference.

But Portland feels good about their chances of growth this year, even if they aren’t likely to challenge for a title. They have a good, young cast of players who they believe can develop into strong NBA players over time.

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 rate him very highly.

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

Clingan picked out the difference and noticed the biggest change from the two competitions.

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

If Clingan wants to be as good as the Trail Blazers envision, he will have to be more physical. He has the tools to become a very successful NBA player, but will need to show consistency throughout his season.

“I loved competing against a different team 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 this year will be like. And because this is my first competition, I am excited.”

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

The former Uconn star weighed in on his performance and said his fitness was strong going into the match. It seemed to give him an edge in the match.

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

If Portland wants to develop into a contender, much of their success will come down to the rookie. He will be given opportunities to succeed and will have to show what he can do.

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