LeBron James opened up about 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 an overall pick who was chosen to become the face of a franchise after he was drafted. The pair also inspired winning cultures in once losing franchises.
In an interview with EsquireJames spoke about his respect for the former Iowa star and gave his perspective on the criticism she faced during her rookie campaign.
“I have a lot of respect for Caitlin Clark because I know exactly what it means to be drafted, to be the face of a franchise and also to face criticism from a lot of people who don’t believe that you’re ready for the next leap, believe not that you’re ready for the big leagues, and just don’t think you belong.”
“I remember when I came into the league at 18, how many people doubted me and hoped and prayed that I would fail,” James added.
LeBron James compared himself to Caitlin Clark days after she was eliminated from the playoffs
Clark’s rookie campaign with the Fever saw her stardom and WNBA popularity skyrocket
“And so, watching Caitlin and seeing what she does, I’ve been supporting her since day one, because I remember going through that, and she has my support 100 percent. She is a transcendent player,” he continued. “And obviously we saw all that in Iowa, and I knew it would translate to the big leagues. And she is an incredible talent. It’s great to watch.’
After gaining a lot of popularity late in her NCAA career, Clark’s first year in the WNBA took her stardom to new heights. Additionally, her entry boosted the WNBA’s viewership and attendance to historic numbers.
Despite being swept in the opening round by an experienced Connecticut Sun team, Clark led Indiana to their first playoff appearance since 2016.
“Yeah, listen, she’s got the vision, she’s got the spirit, she’s infectious, people want to play with her,” James claimed. “They’re going to be a really good team, and it won’t last long.”
James has long been vocal in supporting Clark. After the rookie scored a career-high 31 points and 12 assists in Indiana’s final regular season game 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 attributed the league’s rise to mainstream prominence to Clark’s popularity.
‘The only thing I like about her sport is that more people want to watch. More people want to participate. I saw for the first time that they had a chartered plane. For the first time in the history of their competition, they flew privately. That in itself should be celebrated,” he said on his “Mind the Game” podcast in May.
“That’s something to celebrate, and that’s because of Caitlin Clark. Don’t get it twisted. Don’t get it. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things are going to happen for the WNBA.”