Donovan Clingan

Donovan Clingan's Biography

Donovan John Clingan, familiarly known as “Cling Kong,” is a seasoned professional basketball player in the United States of America. Born on February 23, 2004, Donovan is a significant player for the Portland Trail Blazers, a popular team in the premier National Basketball Association (NBA). With a highly successful career in playing college basketball for the UConn Huskies, Clingan, in 2023 and 2024, clinched two successive national championships.

Raised in Bristol, Connecticut, basketball has always been a part of Donovan’s life. He studied at Bristol Central High School and was instrumental in leading his school’s basketball team to the 2022 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division II state championship. In addition, Clingan displayed his prodigious sporting prowess while playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for Joe Chatman’s Team Spartans located in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

With exceptional talent and dedication, during his junior year, Clingan averaged an astounding 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game, a performance which led him to become the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year. Striving for success, Clingan didn’t stay complacent but worked harder to boost his game during his senior season, averaging 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game. This awe-inspiring performance led him to repeat as the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year.

Before entering his distinguished college career, on July 2, 2021, Clingan made a substantial choice. He received offers from multiple acclaimed universities, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence, and Rutgers, but ultimately decided to commit to UConn.

In his personal life, Clingan’s most cherished friend is Victor Rosa, a title-winning football running back for the UConn Huskies and his high school point guard. Rosa is also known for his record-breaking performances in football.

Entering his freshman season, Clingan played as the substitute for the Huskies’ center, Adama Sanogo. He was recognized and accredited for his exceptional performance and was named in the Big East Conference All-Freshman team by the end of the season. In the intense 2023 national championship game, where the Huskies bagged a 76-59 win, Clingan showcased his promising skill and scored four points, along with three rebounds, a block, and two steals. However, despite his prospects for the 2023 NBA draft, Clingan chose to return to UConn for his sophomore season.

In his sophomore year, he was UConn’s starting center. Despite suffering a foot injury in a match against Seton Hall held on December 20, 2023, he didn’t allow adversity to debar his progress and returned on January 17, 2024, scoring a remarkable six points and snatching five rebounds in just 16 minutes of playing time in a 62-48 victory against 18th-ranked Creighton.

On April 12, 2024, having earned enough playing experience, Clingan announced his decision to give up his remaining college eligibility to declare for the 2024 NBA draft. On June 26, 2024, his skills were recognized, and he fulfilled his dreams by becoming the seventh overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft. As his college number 32 was retired by the Trail Blazers for Bill Walton, Clingan adopted the number 23 for his jersey.

Donovan made his NBA debut for Portland on October 23, 2024, in a match against the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, despite Donovan’s contribution, his team faced defeat with a score of 140-104.

Off the court, Donovan’s deep personal bonds reveal his compassionate heart. The son of Bill and Stacey Porrini Clingan, Donovan has a younger sister named Olivia. His mother, Stacey Clingan, was also a renowned basketball player at Bristol Central. She held school records for career rebounds and blocks, and later continued her passion for basketball at the University of Maine. Sadly, Stacey lost her battle with breast cancer in March 2018. This was an immense impact on Donovan’s life, but he continued to honor her memory by wearing the number 32, his mother’s number, while playing for Bristol and at UConn.