LeBron James explains respect for Caitlin Clark: 'She has my support 100%'

In 2003, LeBron James went No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. He had high expectations – from a famous Sports Illustrated cover to games on ESPN while still in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

More than 20 years later, another “generational talent” went No. 1 in the WNBA Draft. Caitlin Clark set quite the bar while starting at Iowa, setting the Division I all-time scoring record and driving record TV ratings. Through one year in the W, she continued to draw eyes, which also meant she dealt with her share of scrutiny.

LeBron James – like many around the basketball world – watched Clark’s journey unfold. He’s spoken multiple times about his respect for her, and he relates well to what she’s dealt with to start her professional career.

“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,” James told Esquire’s Brian O’Keefe. “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.”

As a rookie, Clark averaged 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 8.4 rebounds to go with 1.3 steals on defense. She not only helped the Fever to a playoff appearance, but also brought home the WNBA’s Rookie of the Year award. She also became the first rookie to ever record a triple-double, and did so a second time to boot.

Indiana fell to the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs, meaning Clark’s rookie year is over. But she understands the best is yet to come.

“The fun part is I feel like I’m just scratching the surface, and I’m one that’s nitpicking every single thing I do,” Clark said after the Game 2 loss to Connecticut, via ESPN’s Andrea Adelson. “I know I want to help this franchise get even better, help my teammates get even better, and I know there’s a lot of room for me to continue to improve.

“So that’s what excites me the most. I feel like I could continue to get a lot better, and before we know it, I’m sure we’ll all be back here and ready for the next year.”