{"id":171602,"date":"2026-01-06T15:20:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T20:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=171602"},"modified":"2026-01-06T15:20:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T20:20:58","slug":"clingan-has-proven-himself-as-the-trail-blazers-best-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/01\/06\/clingan-has-proven-himself-as-the-trail-blazers-best-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Clingan Has Proven Himself As The Trail Blazers’ Best Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Deni Avdija<\/a> and Shaedon Sharpe<\/a> have headlined the Portland Trail Blazers’ promising 2025-26 season. This has led to fewer eyes on Donovan Clingan’s<\/a> development into the Blazers’ best center. He has thrived under Tiago Splitter’s system, which is a great outcome for the sophomore center.<\/p>\n

Clingan Has Proven Himself As The Trail Blazers’ Best Center<\/h2>\n

The Portland Trail Blazers have had numerous centers throughout the years. Jusuf Nurkic<\/a> was probably the most reliable one, but they have not had a true franchise center. Now, the Blazers can fully rely on Donovan Clingan to be a building block for the next decade.<\/p>\n

Selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Clingan became a long-term project for Portland. Deandre Ayton<\/a> was the starting center during Clingan’s rookie year. However, it became apparent that Clingan deserved the franchise center role<\/a>, so the Blazers waived Ayton.<\/p>\n

Clingan Is The Blazers’ Best Center Moving Forward<\/h3>\n

After an impressive rookie year that saw him make the All-Rookie Second Team, Clingan became the starting center. Even though the Blazers selected Yang Hansen<\/a> in the 2025 Draft, Clingan was the de facto starter.<\/p>\n

He has proven himself in the 2025-26 season with his impressive performances. This season, Clingan is averaging a double-double of 11.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. His offensive rebounding is also the best in the league at 4.6 a night.<\/p>\n

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Donovan Clingan stats tonight: <\/p>\n

– 12 points | 55.6% FG | 66.7% TS
– 17 rebounds \ud83e\udd8d
– 3 blocks <\/p>\n

Clingan has been killing it lately \ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/QOchhYSo9P<\/a><\/p>\n

— SleeperTrailBlazers (@SleeperBlazers) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n