Official: The Kings have exercised the team option for the third year of Clifford's rookie contract.

The Sacramento Kings released a statement on Monday confirming that they have exercised the team option for the third year of Nick Clifford's rookie contract. The news was first reported by local reporter Sean Cunningham and subsequently confirmed by Kings general manager Scott Perry.

Clifford's salary this season is approximately $3.26 million, which is already fully guaranteed. With the team option now exercised, his salary for the 2027/28 season, approximately $3.42 million, will also be fully guaranteed.

Clifford, 24, is a 6'6" (1.96m) and 95kg (4.5kg) swingman who will enter the NBA in 2025 as the 24th overall pick in the first round. A regular in Doug Christie's rotation, he played 75 regular season games for the Kings in his rookie season, averaging 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 25.1 minutes per game, with a 41.8% field goal percentage and a 33.3% three-point percentage.

So far this season, Clifford has made two appearances off the bench in three regular-season games for the Kings, averaging 3.0 points and 1.5 assists in 9.5 minutes per game. He will now compete with Emmanuel Sharp, Dekwang Plowden, DeAndre Hunter, and others for a place in the rotation.

Image source: Internet/NBA official website