
Donovan John Clingan, an American basketball player, wore the number 32 jersey for the UConn Huskies before being drafted to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2024, where he now wears the number 23 jersey. Clingan, who was born in 2004, played college basketball for the UConn Huskies and won two consecutive national championships from 2023 to 2024. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Donovan John Clingan |
| Date of Birth | February 23, 2004 |
| Position | Center |
| College Number | 32 |
| Current Number | 23 |
| College Team | UConn Huskies |
| Current Team | Portland Trail Blazers |
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What You'll Learn
- Donovan Clingan wore number 32 for UConn Huskies
- Clingan was a sophomore when he started as UConn's centre
- He was drafted in 2024, picked seventh overall by the Portland Trail Blazers
- Clingan changed his jersey number to 23 when he joined the Trail Blazers
- He made his NBA debut against the Golden State Warriors

Donovan Clingan wore number 32 for UConn Huskies
Donovan John Clingan, born on February 23, 2004, wore the number 32 jersey for the UConn Huskies men's basketball team. Clingan, a native of Bristol, Connecticut, attended Bristol Central High School, where he excelled in basketball. He led his high school boys' basketball team to a 2022 Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division II state championship. As a junior, he averaged 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game, earning the title of Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year. He repeated this feat in his senior year, improving his averages to 30.3 points, 18.4 rebounds, and 6.2 blocks per game.
Clingan's impressive high school career garnered offers from top basketball programs, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgetown, Syracuse, Providence, and Rutgers. However, on July 2, 2021, he committed to play college basketball for the UConn Huskies. Clingan entered UConn as their starting center and helped the team win two consecutive national championships from 2023 to 2024. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury in a game against Seton Hall on December 20, 2023, but he returned to action on January 17, 2024, contributing to a victory over Creighton.
Clingan's number 32 jersey holds significance in UConn Huskies basketball history. While playing for the Huskies, he wore this number and established himself as a key contributor to the team's success. After his time at UConn, Clingan declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, where he was selected as the seventh overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers. With his new team, he chose to wear the number 23 jersey as his college number, 32, had been retired by the Trail Blazers in honour of Bill Walton.
Donovan Clingan, wearing number 32 for the UConn Huskies, left a lasting mark on the team's legacy. His outstanding performances during his time with the Huskies solidified his place in the team's history and set him on a path to success in the NBA.
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Clingan was a sophomore when he started as UConn's centre
Donovan John Clingan, born on February 23, 2004, is an American basketball player who wore the number 32 jersey for the UConn Huskies during his college basketball career. Clingan, a native of Bristol, Connecticut, attended Bristol Central High School, where he excelled in basketball. He led his high school team to a Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division II state championship in 2022, showcasing his talent and potential.
Clingan entered his sophomore year at UConn as the starting center, a significant achievement for any college basketball player. Unfortunately, his season was interrupted by a foot injury sustained in a game against Seton Hall on December 20, 2023. Demonstrating his resilience and dedication, Clingan returned to the court on January 17, 2024, contributing six points and five rebounds in a convincing win over Creighton.
During his sophomore year, Clingan experienced both individual success and team triumphs. He played a pivotal role in helping UConn secure two consecutive national championships from 2023 to 2024. Clingan's outstanding performances during this period were recognised, and he was named the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year in both his junior and senior seasons. His impressive statistics, including points, rebounds, and blocks, solidified his reputation as one of the top college basketball players in the country.
Following his successful college career, Clingan declared for the 2024 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. His talent was recognised by the Portland Trail Blazers, who selected him as the seventh overall pick in the draft. With his new team, Clingan chose to wear the number 23 jersey, as his college number 32 had been retired by the Trail Blazers for Bill Walton. Clingan made his highly anticipated NBA debut on October 23, 2024, marking the beginning of his professional basketball journey.
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He was drafted in 2024, picked seventh overall by the Portland Trail Blazers
Donovan John Clingan, the American basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers, was drafted in 2024 and picked seventh overall by the team. Clingan, born on February 23, 2004, played college basketball for the UConn Huskies, winning two consecutive national championships from 2023 to 2024.
Clingan wore the number 32 jersey during his time with the UConn Huskies. However, he chose the number 23 jersey when he joined the Portland Trail Blazers, as the team had retired the number 32 jersey in honour of Bill Walton.
Clingan entered his sophomore year as UConn's starting centre but suffered a foot injury in a game against Seton Hall on December 20, 2023. He returned to action on January 17, 2024, scoring six points and grabbing five rebounds in 16 minutes of play in a victory over Creighton. On April 12, 2024, Clingan announced his decision to enter the 2024 NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Clingan with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He signed with the team on July 4, 2024, and made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, against the Golden State Warriors.
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Clingan changed his jersey number to 23 when he joined the Trail Blazers
Donovan John Clingan, born on February 23, 2004, is an American basketball player who played for the UConn Huskies in college. Clingan, a Bristol, Connecticut native, attended Bristol Central High School, where he excelled at basketball, leading the boys' team to a Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Division II state championship in 2022. He then committed to playing college basketball for UConn, where he won two consecutive national championships from 2023 to 2024.
On April 12, 2024, Clingan declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. He was selected with the seventh overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft. Clingan's original college jersey number was 32, but the Trail Blazers had already retired this number in honour of Bill Walton. As a result, Clingan chose 23 as his new jersey number.
Clingan signed with the Portland Trail Blazers on July 4, 2024, and made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, against the Golden State Warriors. As a professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers, Clingan continues to build on his impressive basketball career, adding new achievements to his already impressive list of accomplishments.
Clingan's journey from his early days at Bristol Central High School to his success with the UConn Huskies and now as a Portland Trail Blazer showcases his dedication and talent for the sport. His decision to change his jersey number to 23 when joining the Trail Blazers reflects his respect for the team's history and retired numbers. Clingan's choice to embrace a new number symbolises his adaptability and willingness to embrace a fresh start as he embarks on his NBA career.
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He made his NBA debut against the Golden State Warriors
Donovan John Clingan, an American basketball player, wears the number 32 jersey for the UConn Huskies, the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. Clingan, born on February 23, 2004, in Bristol, Connecticut, attended Bristol Central High School, where he excelled at basketball, leading his team to a state championship in 2022.
Clingan chose to play college basketball for UConn, joining the team in 2023. He quickly established himself as the team's starting center, helping them win back-to-back national championships in his first two seasons. On April 12, 2024, Clingan declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.
On June 26, 2024, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Clingan with the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft. As his college number, 32, had been retired by the Trail Blazers for Bill Walton, Clingan opted for 23 as his new jersey number. On July 4, he officially signed with the Portland-based team.
Clingan's highly anticipated NBA debut came on October 23, 2024, against the Golden State Warriors. The game ended in a 140-104 loss for the Trail Blazers, marking a challenging start to Clingan's NBA career. Despite the defeat, Clingan's debut garnered attention and marked the beginning of his journey in professional basketball.
Clingan's journey from a standout high school player to a college basketball champion, and now an NBA player, showcases his dedication and talent for the sport. His debut against the Golden State Warriors was a significant milestone, and he continues to work towards success in the NBA.
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