The conversation on Caitlin Clark is not going to stop anytime soon. Now, former NBA player Gilbert Arenas has revealed that a strategy of view manipulation was used against Clark. Speaking of the WNBA rookie, Arenas shared how rankings were changed and incidents were exaggerated to generate clicks and keep the audience engaged.
Arenas recalled an instance where he witnessed the ranks of Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink change within 12 hours. Surprisingly, Clark dropped to number 6 despite playing no new games, while Brink went up to number one.
“Less than 12 hours later she was number one and Caitin was six but Caitlin never played right, so I’m like but people seeing her number six click click click click click click click right, they’re just playing to it,” Arenas said on Gils’ Arena podcast.
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“Then oh we’re going to throw Angel up there click click click click click. She’s back number one click click click click right. Their celebrity came from college to now and these are the clicks you know one gets hit, no one’s going to say anything it’s like they’re manipulating the views,” Arenas added.
Arenas reckons these actions are intentional and the aim behind it is to stir reactions from the fans. Fans are quite concerned about their favorite player’s ranking.
A few days ago, Agent Zero also argued how the WNBA couldn’t use the infamous Clark and Reese rivalry.
Gilbert Arenas calls out WNBA for poor promotion efforts
The 2023 Women’s NCAA tournament changed the game for women’s basketball. Reese and LSU’s victory over IOWA and Reese’s celebration quickly caught people’s attention. However, the Golden State Warriors legend claimed that the WNBA didn’t use a readymade rivalry as well as it should have.
Expressing his concern, Arenas said, “They’re using a rivalry in college. The WNBA, you didn’t have rivals, and you didn’t promote your rivals. The college did. This is a college thing. This is not a WNBA theory. These girls made their name in college. They were college famous.”
Arenas is also unimpressed by Clark’s Olympics Snub. USA women’s basketball team for the Olympics currently features Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, and Jackie Young.
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Arenas has always been vocal about his support of Clark in his podcast. Is he right about the ranking manipulation this time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.
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