Is Caitlin Clark Already Receiving the Michael Jordan Treatment? Anthony Davis Provides Honest Answer on WNBA’s Hostility

Long before Caitlin Clark even got drafted into the WNBA, she was proclaimed as the next big thing and even the savior of the women’s league. While the hype boosted her into superstardom, it also put a target on her back. And it was evident from the moment Caitlin was selected #1 by the Indiana Fever as she has been on the receiving end of a lot of physicality and hard fouls from vets in almost every game. With that, some even believe that CC is already receiving the MJ treatment because of the eyeballs she attracts. However, making an appearance on Join The Lobby Podcast, Anthony Davis dove into WNBA’s hostile treatment toward Clark.

Anthony Davis claims hostility toward Caitlin Clark is part of turning pro

Judging by the WNBA’s increased viewership since Caitlin stepped into the league, AD agreed to the notion that her impact on making WNBA more popular could be somewhat similar to how Jordan globalized the NBA when he first started. “Yeah, I mean on a smaller scale,” AD admitted. Although not at the global level like MJ, Caitlin Clark’s mere presence in the women’s league has brought in a ton of new viewers. But Davis did claim that it was also the product of the social media era we live in today.

Giving flowers to the legendary female athletes who came before her, including Candace Parker and Maya Moore, AD believed that Clark was not the first player to do it, “You got all the ladies who was hooping.” But just like MJ, Clark is also getting harsh treatment from her WNBA peers as a rookie. When Jordan first entered the league, players used to be extra tough on him physically because that was the only to stop him from dominating. Well documented in The Last Dance series, the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons had special ‘Jordan Rules’ to stop MJ from scoring in the playoffs, which basically meant dropping him with hard fouls every time he drove to the basket.

And because Caitlin also has a unique skill set and is being deemed the next face of the league, she is facing a tougher time at the pro level than she did in college. Just recently, Chicago’s Chennedy Carter hit Caitlin with a hard shot to her side during an inbound pass for no apparent reason, which was even deemed a flagrant foul by the league. But AD claims that more than hostility, the physicality of the veterans is just a part of the transition from college to the pros, “It comes with the league. You a rookie.”

Even WNBA legend Diana Taurasi warned Caitlin that this could be her fate long before she got drafted, “You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re gonna come with some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time. There is gonna be a transition period.” So, maybe the physicality is weirdly just a way to welcome her to the big leagues.

Anthony Davis compares Caitlin’s situation to his rookie year

Being the number one pick in his draft class back in 2012, Anthony Davis knows exactly what Caitlin is going through in her rookie year. Just like Caitlin, he was also expected to turn the then-New Orleans Hornets franchise around and become the future face of the league. And coming in with so much expectations and attention did not sit well with some of the existing players in the league. “When I came in, it was a little bit similar, just on a smaller scale.” While not as harsh as Clark, AD did go through his fair share of ‘welcome to the league’ moments in his first year out of college.

Moreover, the stardom that followed for AD also put him against his own teammates. “It was guys who were on the team who had the same position who took offense to that,” Davis remarked. With millions at stake and their career on the line, it’s never easy for players to see themselves get replaced by a younger player right in front of their eyes. At the time AD got drafted, the Hornets also acquired Forward Ryan Anderson, who had just come off an amazing season and won the Most Improved Player award. However, Davis being the bigger star, got the starting position over Anderson and he had to settle in the backup role.

Coming off a season where he started in all the games he played, in AD’s rookie year, Anderson only started in 22 of his 81 appearances. But such is the competitive nature of the league. And such cases can create a rift between rookies and veterans.

However, Anthony Davis believes that Caitlin Clark has been handling all the criticism and harsh treatment extremely well and years down the line when she looks back on this experience, she will realize that it made her a better and tougher player. Do you agree?

Before you go, do not forget to check out what Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato has to say about Caitlin Clark’s meteoric rise to stardom. Keep checking this space for more such updates.