“Shaq Was So Pissed…He Didn’t Want To Talk”: Ex-Agent Leonard Armato Gives Caitlin Clark a Lesson From History (Exclusive)

There will always be ups and downs in life and basketball. Even Shaq took quite a while to become the formidable force he came to be known as in the NBA. And just as he did in the nascent stages of his career, Caitlin Clark is struggling right now, too. Of course, their struggles are different when we outright compare them, but Shaq has experienced what Clark is going through. It took him some time to overcome his mental barricades and win three championships in a row. Perseverance and resilience are the keys to achieving this, as per Leonard Armato.

In an exclusive conversation with EssentiallySports, Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent speaks about the challenges Caitlin Clark is currently facing. He understands the effects it can have on a talented player. But he also shares words of wisdom that Clark could use to reach the “top of the mountain.” Here’s an excerpt from our conversation with his advice for her.

Armato: I can remember when Shaq was with the Lakers, and they ended up losing four straight to the Utah Jazz. I think it was one of his first years with the Lakers. Kobe Bryant shot airballs in the last game. So Shaq was so pissed he didn’t want to talk to the press. He said, ‘I’m not talking to the press,’ and he started to come out of the locker room, and I go, ‘Look, hold on. You need to go back in there and face the music. You have to face adversity on your way to the promised land. Go back in there.’ A lot of people are like, ‘How could you go and tell him that when he didn’t want to go back in there?’

But it’s our job, as an agent, as a representative, to try to push them in the right direction, to let them know that every single thing that they want to do might not necessarily be the right response. Their knee-jerk reaction might not be in their best interest. And it’s your duty to jump in and try to coach them and try to counsel them the right way. To his credit, he turned right around, faced the music, faced the press, and just said, ‘Look, next year’s gonna be different.’ And it was. 

The blowout against the Utah Jazz happened during the 1998 Playoffs in the Western Conference Finals, just two years before their three-peat run started. That said, this wasn’t the first time Armato spoke about Clark. In the first episode of our exclusive conversation with him, he predicted that Clark could face difficulties making it big in the WNBA. The reason being her premium feel.

As per Armato, she entered the league with a lot of talent, ultimately putting herself in a sticky situation of sorts where she would always have someone targeting her. Of course, it’s understandable, considering the skills and fan following she brings to the WNBA table. People will want to tackle and stop her in her pursuit of success, which is evident right now.

Despite her brilliance and humility, Clark is going through a plethora of negativity surrounding her. She possesses a world-class shooting range. Her abilities and attributes have brought a rush of talent and a stunning wave in the WNBA this year. It is because of her that the WNBA viewership and tickets are selling out at a record high. Yet, the surrounding weirdness is probably something nobody saw coming. Not even Clark.

Caitlin Clark and her struggles

Even though Clark tries to focus on basketball, there have been plenty of moments the Iowa prodigy has faced that could make anyone stumble. At the top of the list comes the entire situation with Chennedy Carter from Indiana Fever’s 71-70 win over the Chicago Sky on June 1, where she shoulder-checked Clark, causing her to fall. The physicality of it all sent shivers down the spine of every fan. Yet Clark remained the picture of calm on the court. She did not retaliate. Instead, she did what she does best – she just played!

There’s no doubt that Clark understands that she shouldn’t let all this get to her. Her post-game comments suggested as much. As her coaches and fans stand up for her, she continues pouring her heart and soul into her game whenever she’s on the court, dismissing her haters. When questioned if Carter owes her an apology, all she had to say was, “No. I mean, basketball’s competitive. I get it.”

Adding fuel to the fire was her Paris Olympics snub. Millions view her as one of the best women’s basketball players in the world right now. She is inarguably talented, and the surrounding hype is real. Even so, she hasn’t been included in Team USA. While critics argue that this was one of the worst decisions ever made, Clark remained humble. Instead of saying something amateurish, she congratulated those who made it to the roster. Knowing she’ll make it to the Games when the time comes, Clark said, “I was a kid that grew up watching the Olympics. It’ll be fun to watch them.”

Her integrity is visible off the court. With no aggressive responses, she has set a new high many aspire to reach. Her silence and gentle responses to every bit of controversy she’s involved in (indirectly or directly) are setting an example. It’s undeniable that she understands that decisions made by the committee may not always work out in her favor. In fact, even Candace Parker was on the receiving end of a similar decision in 2016, subsequently followed by Nneka Ogwumike.

Caitlin Clark is a passionate woman who just stepped into a wild WNBA world and is here to make it. Like Shaq, she has a long way to go and will achieve her milestones when the time comes. As for the Olympics, she is hopeful she will make it one day. “It’s a dream. I think it’s just a little more motivation. Hopefully, when four years comes around, I can be there.”

Leonard Armato would be truly pleased with Caitlin Clark’s humility.

This was just an excerpt of the long conversation Leonard Armato had with EssentiallySports in an exclusive interview. Watch this video to hear what the legendary agent and brand maker has to say about her and the WNBA.