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 nicely with a few of her colleagues and even some decision-makers within the league.
Quick ahead to at the moment, and she or he’s been dragged into countless controversies off the court docket, to not point out her fair proportion of dirty plays on it.
Clark has downplayed the whole lot and has tried to maintain the dialog focused 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 should undergo what we name rites of passage. She’s a wonderful participant, however we’re not supplying you with something, ever. You must earn it,” Shaq told 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 along with his fair proportion 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 is not any doubt that Clark has what it takes to go down as one of many all-time greats.
Her fame does not essentially observe from that, and maybe she’ll should 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 duty, and if folks aren’t keen to point out her some respect, she’ll simply should take it.
