Lengthy earlier than she set foot on a WNBA hardwood, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark had already been anointed as the brand new face of ladies’s basketball.
That did not sit effectively with a few of her colleagues and even some decision-makers within the league.
Quick ahead to at present, and he or she’s been dragged into numerous controversies off the court docket, to not point out her justifiable share of soiled performs on it.
Clark has downplayed every thing and has tried to maintain the dialog centered on basketball, however that is clearly not sufficient anymore. That is why NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal provided her a blunt piece of recommendation.
Shaquille O’Neal thinks Caitlin Clark can personal the WNBA
“All of the greats need to undergo what we name rites of passage. She’s a wonderful participant, however we’re not supplying you with something, ever. You need to earn it,” Shaq advised CNBC Sports activities. “So for her, she must toughen up, take these licks, and present them that, ‘These licks don’t trouble me.’”
O’Neal, who additionally dealt together with his justifiable share of criticism on the time, believes that is what Clark must do to raise her standing:
“As soon as she passes via that, the league will belong to her,” O’Neal continued.
Basketball-wise, there isn’t any doubt that Clark has what it takes to go down as one of many all-time greats.
Her fame would not essentially comply with from that, and maybe she’ll need to do some soul-searching, take a tough look within the mirror or change her P.R. technique to steer the dialog elsewhere.
With nice energy comes nice accountability, and if individuals aren’t keen to indicate her some respect, she’ll simply need to take it.
