LeBron James offered WNBA star Caitlin Clark advice to cope with her ‘out of this world’ expectations after the Indiana Fever have started the season with five consecutive losses.
James was compelled to give Clark advice as he went through a similar losing streak during his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 2003-04 Cavs started the season 0-5 and fortunes did not turn around long-term as the team was 4-17 in early December and missed the playoffs.
‘People need to realize, the Indiana Fever — this is the second year in a row they had the No. 1 pick. Do y’all know what that means? That means they’re not that good,’ James continued.
‘I’m rooting for Caitlin because I’ve been in that seat before. I’ve walked that road before. I hope she kills. I hope Aliyah Boston does amazing. I hope they do great,’ James added.
James was the No 1 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, 21 years before Clark was the top overall pick who was cherry-picked to change a league’s trajectory.
‘I’m getting the same thing from watching my son, who is a 19-year-old, getting a lot of animosity and hatred towards him when he’s just a kid trying to live out his dream,’ James said of Bronny and Clark.
‘There’s a very small number of men and women that actually get to live out their dream of playing the professional sport, and we have grown a** men and women out here doing whatever they can to make sure that doesn’t happen,’ James continued. ‘I’m glad that Caitlin has a great head on her shoulders.’
In the twilight years of his career, it’s easy to look back and see James’ impact on the NBA despite playing alongside the late Kobe Bryant for many years and a few years after Michael Jordan’s first retirement.
‘The one thing that I love that she’s bringing to her sport: more people want to watch,’ James said. ‘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,’ James continued. ‘That should be celebrated, and it’s because of Caitlin Clark. Don’t get it twisted. Don’t get it f****d up. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things are going to happen for the WNBA.’
