After Caitlin Clark and the Fever’s season got here to finish, LeBron James shared an unfiltered tackle why he respects the rookie a lot.
“I’ve a substantial amount of respect for Caitlin Clark, as a result of I do know precisely what it means to be drafted, be the face of a franchise, and likewise get the scrutiny from lots of people that don’t imagine you’re prepared for the following leap, don’t imagine you’re prepared for the massive leagues, and simply don’t suppose that you simply belong,” LeBron instructed Esquire. “And I keep in mind that once I got here into the league at eighteen years previous how many individuals doubted me and hoped and prayed that I’d fail. And so, me watching Caitlin and seeing what she’s doing, I’ve been in help of her since day one, as a result of I keep in mind myself going by that, and she or he has my help 100%. She’s a transcendent participant. And clearly all of us noticed that at Iowa, and I knew that it could translate to the massive leagues. And he or she’s an unbelievable expertise. It’s nice to look at.”
It’s no marvel LeBron can relate to Clark’s scenario a lot.
The Cavs drafted him out of highschool at No. 1 in 2003 and the workforce introduced their intention to pick the highschool prodigy proper after profitable the draft lottery.
Equally, when Clark was drafted by the Fever, she immediately turned the face of the franchise and WNBA viewings skyrocketed.
Nonetheless, Indiana’s 1-8 begin on the season had individuals questioning whether or not she was the true deal or not.
However, the 22-year-old confirmed out in her first season and completed the 12 months with unanimous Rookie of the Yr honors.
She additionally made historical past a number of occasions all through the season, together with when she set new single-game (19) and single-season (337) help data.
She scored 769 whole factors, which additionally created a brand new WNBA single-season rookie scoring file.
Her full checklist of achievements on the 12 months is sort of unbelievable.
In April, Diana Taurasi warned Caitlin Clark that “actuality is coming” in her rookie WNBA season.
Since then, Clark has achieved:
🔸Unanimous ROTY
🔸League chief in APG
🔸League chief in 3P
🔸1st in PPG by a rookie
🔸1st in FGM by a rookie
🔸1st in APG by a rookie
🔸1st in… pic.twitter.com/xuI1FfI2kH— Basketball Perpetually (@bballforever_) September 23, 2024
LeBron has defended Clark up to now and it doesn’t appear to be his public admiration for her will likely be slowing down anytime quickly.
