Los Angeles Lakers star and NBA legend LeBron James, who understands the pressure of meeting and surpassing enormous expectations, recently shared his insights with Caitlin Clark.
During his appearance on the Mind the Game Pod with JJ Redick, James advised the up-and-coming WNBA star, saying, “My advice to Caitlin, and my advice to anyone that comes in with this level of notoriety, out-of-this-world expectation, whatever the case may be, be a horse, man. The Kentucky Derby. Put your blinders on, go to work, show up to work, punch your clock in, prepare yourself, work on your game, work on your craft. Kind of keep your mouth shut and just learn from the vets.”
LeBron also pointed out why so many are now tuning in:
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When James entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, he faced immense pressure, being hailed as the next Michael Jordan straight out of high school.
Despite the weight of expectations, James rose to the challenge and established himself as one of the all-time greats. With a remarkable career that includes 20 All-Star appearances, four NBA championships, and numerous MVP titles.
Similarly, Caitlin Clark is subject to significant hype, being viewed as a standout talent in her own right rather than compared to past legends. Despite the attention, James emphasized that it’s a process, especially for a team like the Fever, who have had consecutive No. 1 overall picks.
He highlighted the challenges they face and drew comparisons to his own early NBA career, where he didn’t reach the playoffs until his third season.
