LeBron James has been impressed with Caitlin Clark’s rookie season as a member of the Indiana Fever.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar discussed his respect for Clark, a fellow former No. 1 overall draft pick, in an interview with Brian O’Keefe of Esquire.
“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. And 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. 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. 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.”
Although Indiana’s season came to an end with a first-round playoff loss to the Connecticut Sun, the former Iowa standout exceeded expectations in her inaugural WNBA campaign. She was rewarded with the 2024 Rookie of the Year honor on Friday, via Shams Charania of The Athletic.
After she wrapped up a four-year college career with the Hawkeyes, winning three straight Big Ten Player of the Year awards and becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, her popularity was already high before she was selected with the top choice in the 2024 draft.
It’s easy to see why James can relate to her situation, as high expectations also surrounded the 20-time All-Star when he was in high school. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him out of high school at No. 1 in 2003, with the Cavaliers announcing their intention to select James directly after winning the draft lottery.
The four-time MVP hasn’t been shy about praising Clark, posting about her on social media during her 2024 NCAA Tournament run with Iowa as well as her first season in Indiana.
Clark’s scoring average of 19.2 points per game with the Fever was the highest mark among all rookies in 2024. She also recorded 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game on 41.7/34.4/90.6 shooting splits.
The 22-year-old made history several times throughout the season, setting new single-game (19) and single-season (337) assist records. Her 769 total points also represented a new WNBA single-season rookie scoring record.
Clark helped the Fever earn their first playoff appearance since 2016. She’ll look to improve even further in her second season, and she already has the support of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer as she does so.
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