“Nobody gives me advice in games. I wish.” A dejected Caitlin Clark said after losing against Seattle Storm. She was asked what was the best advice she had received from the veterans. The rookie’s non-selection for the Paris Olympics 2024 caught quite a stir, but the first overall pick of the 2004 NBA draft agreed with the decision. Dwight Howard, like Clark, was the first overall pick in the draft 20 years back but was not included in the Olympics squad.

The Fever Rookie vs Veteran narrative started before Caitlin Clark debuted in the WNBA. Although her performances might prove she is on par with the veterans, the former Los Angeles Lakers player felt the non-selection call was the right one for Clark. “Now in this situation business-wise I feel like it would have been a great thing to do. But I think it would have caused a lot of animosity with all the women that are in the league,” Howard said on his YouTube channel.

Sniper J0nes, Dwight Howard’s co-host brought forward the debate that rookie players had a spot on the roster in the Olympics. Rebecca Loco in 1996, Diana Taurasi in 2004, Candace Parker in 2008, and Breanna Stewart in 2016 are a few examples of the players who made it to the Olympic roster in their debut season. However, Howard did not budge from his assessment and said Clark would have to earn her stripes.

According to the former NBA champion, Clark hasn’t even climbed the ranks yet, and many players have an edge over her basketball-wise. Howard, who also missed his first Olympics, had words of encouragement for the 22-year-old. “I think Caitlin Clark is an amazing player but I think this should drive her to want to come back next year and go harder so she can make the next team”. Even Clark had a similar reaction to her non-selection.

Is Dwight Howard’s assessment of Caitlin Clark accurate?

Caitlin Clark, in the recent win against Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury, scored a double-double with 15 points and 12 assists. What was more interesting was that she contributed with 9 rebounds as well, just falling short of becoming the first-ever WNBA rookie to score a triple-double.

The 22-year-old is currently in the 16th position for the points per game stats in the league leaderboards. She is 18th in the rebounding category and 5th in the 3-point made category. Her best ranking currently is in assists as she stands overall 3rd with 6.9 per game. Even with the non-selection Clark is upbeat about her future.

“I know it’s the most competitive team in the world and I know it could have gone either way — me being on the team or me not being on the team…Honestly, no disappointment. It just gives me something to work for; it’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that. Hopefully, when four years come back around, I can be there,” Clark was quoted as saying by CBS News.

The US women’s basketball team enters the 2024 Olympics as reigning champions and will aim for back-to-back gold medals. They will start their campaign against Japan on the 29th of July.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.