LeBron James related to the weight on Caitlin Clark’s shoulders shortly after the rookie sensation and the Indiana Fever were swept out of the WNBA playoffs.
James was also a No 1 overall pick elected to become the face of a franchise upon being drafted. The pair also inspired winning cultures in once-losing franchises.
In an interview with Esquire, James talked about his respect for the former Iowa star and gave his perspective on the scrutiny she faced during her rookie campaign.
‘I have a great deal of respect for Caitlin Clark because I know exactly what it means to be drafted, be the face of a franchise, and also get the scrutiny from a lot of people that don’t believe you’re ready for the next jump, don’t believe you’re ready for the big leagues, and just don’t think that you belong.’
‘I remember that when I came into the league at eighteen years old how many people doubted me and hoped and prayed that I’d fail,’ James added.
‘And so, me watching Caitlin and seeing what she’s doing, I’ve been in support of her since day one, because I remember myself going through that, and she has my support 100 percent. She’s a transcendent player,’ he continued. ‘And obviously, we all saw that at Iowa, and I knew that it would translate to the big leagues. And she’s an unbelievable talent. It’s great to watch.’
After gaining much popularity late in her NCAA career, Clark’s first year in the WNBA elevated her stardom to new heights. Additionally, her entry had the WNBA’s viewership and attendance number swelling to historic rates.
Despite getting swept by an experienced Connecticut Sun team in the opening round, Clark led Indiana to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
‘Yeah, listen, she has the vision, she has the spirit, she’s infectious, people want to play with her,’ James claimed. ‘They’re going to be a really good team, and not too long from now.’
James has long been vocal while supporting Clark. After the rookie scored a career-high 31 points and 12 assists in Indiana’s final regular-season matchup against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky in August, he posted a message addressing Clark’s ‘haters.’
At the start of the WNBA season, James credited the league’s rise to mainstream prominence to Clark’s popularity.
‘The one thing that I love that she’s bringing to her sport: more people want to watch. More people want to tune in. I saw, for the first time, they had a chartered plane. For the first time in their league history, they flew private. That should be celebrated in its own right,’ he said on his podcast ‘Mind the Game’ back in May.
‘That should be celebrated, and it’s because of Caitlin Clark. Don’t get it twisted. Don’t get it f***** up. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things are going to happen for the WNBA.’
