LeBron James can relate to Fever rookie Caitlin Clark on a personal level in terms of the trials and tribulations that come with being a young basketball sensation.
During the latest installment of his and JJ Redick’s “Mind the Game” podcast James weighed in on the attention Clark has received when Redick asked the Lakers star how he dealt with similar vitriol when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft at age 18.
“The one thing that I love that she’s bringing to her sport: More people want to watch, more people want to tune in. Don’t get it twisted, don’t get it f–ked up, Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things is going to happen for the WNBA,” James, now 39, said.
“But for her individually, I don’t think she should get involved on nothing that’s being said. Just go have fun, enjoy.”
Clark — the No. 1 overall pick by the Fever in the WNBA Draft in April — has been under a microscope and at the center of praise and criticism four games into her pro career.
“But I’m rooting for Caitlin because I’ve been in that seat before. I’ve walked that road before,” James said. “I hope she kills it. I hope [Fever forward] Aliyah Boston [the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft] does amazing. I hope they do great.
“I’m just kind of in this mode right now because I’m getting the same, you know, thing from watching my son [Bronny James], who is a 19-year-old [going through the NBA draft process] kind of getting a lot of animosity and hatred towards him when he’s just a kid trying to live out his dream. There’s a very small number of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing a professional sport.
“And we have grown ass men and women out here doing whatever they can to try to make sure that does not happen. That is the weirdest thing in the world, but it is what it is. And I’m glad that Caitlin has a great head on her shoulders.”
Clark — who led Iowa to two consecutive NCAA championship appearances in each of the last two seasons, and became the NCAA’s Division I all-time leading scorer for men or women — experienced a few “welcome to the league” moments during the Fever’s 0-4 start.
The 22-year-old Clark has shown flashes of her deep shooting range, which made her arguably the greatest shooter in college basketball, across four games with Indiana, but she has much to work on in her rookie season.
Turnovers have been an issue for Clark, who also needs to improve her mid-range game and ball-handling skills.
Redick mentioned to James that there is “a dislike or vitriol” aimed at Clark from older players and how her opponents aren’t exactly wrapping their arms around her.
Mercury star Diana Taurasi — a three-time WNBA champion, two-time Finals MVP, 2009 league MVP and a 10-time All-Star, who is entering her 20th season — ruffled some feathers when she said Clark would experience a learning curve at the pro level.
It was then used as fuel for a veteran and rookie rivalry with Taurasi and Clark.
James went on to explain that he wasn’t welcomed with open arms to the NBA.
“There is video evidence of my teammates basically saying, ‘he’s not ready’ or ‘there is somebody playing this position’ or ‘we’re not putting all of our faith in an 18-year-old kid’ or ‘all this hype, we’ve been here,'” said James, who played the first seven seasons of his career with his hometown Cavaliers.
“So, my own teammates who I had to be on the floor with, practicing with, on the planes with, in the locker room, in game situations, that just had this kinda — you don’t want to say hate — animosity towards me and what I can provide.”
