LeBron James, Charles Barkley and even NFL legend Shannon Sharpe. All conveying the same narrative. A feeling of jealousy, resentment, or the most recent term “hate” mongering against the 2024 1st overall draft pick Caitlin Clark. While there have been numerous instances that do provide valid grounds to support that argument, nothing conclusive has been drawn out of it. However, the rationale behind the debate gaining so much traction is there. And, the 3× NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas is among the first to point it out.

Gilbert Arenas, Josiah Johnson, Lexie Brown, Brandon Jennings & Rashad McCants recently sat down to evaluate the latest Skylar Diggins-Caitlin Clark chapter at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Refusing to accept Lexie Brown’s justification that the behavior against the rookie is a competitive one, Gilbert Arenas breaks down why such a story is gaining traction. He went on and said, “This is the problem why it looks like it’s hate. They know the camera is on her (Caitlin Clark) but consciously they are not understanding. All the cameras is watching one person. When you try to do something remember they’re catching that sh*t.” 

Arenas also said that if something similar had happened against Clark’s teammate Aliyah Boston, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. “Even if you do that to everyone, its don’t matter. They’re looking to see if you do it to her,” said the 42-year-old.

The whole discussion revolves around Skylar Diggins-Smith’s latest antics. Just as Caitlin Clark was hyping the crowd as the Fever led, the veteran bumped into her. By the looks of the video that surfaced soon after that, Clark’s supporters and some eminent analysts term it intentional and hostile.

Something similar happened with Clark in Fever’s Commissioner Cup opener against Chicago earlier this season. The fixture became popular for all the wrong reasons because of Chennedy Carter’s nasty flagrant foul on the rookie.

It’s because of episodes like this that Gilbert Arenas opines that Caitlin Clark is getting a Kobe Bryant-Victor Wembanyama-like treatment in the WNBA.

Gilbert Arenas draws NBA parallels to the Caitlin Clark rookie ‘hate’ treatment

Seemingly, Arenas outrightly stated that Caitlin Clark is not someone to mess around. Comparing her aura to that of legendary Kobe Bryant and the French rockstar Victor Wembanyama, he believes that she’s no ordinary rookie.

Arenas went on and said, “99% all rookies get the same treatment. There’s a few that’s coming through history, you can’t f**k with them. When LeBron came, they got the yapping… Wemby right now? Off-limits.” 

Whether or not it is hate will have several forthcoming discussions. One thing that hardly anyone could deny is that Caitlin Clark has justified all her hype in the rookie season. And with a comprehensive section of her campaign still remaining, there’s a lot more to come.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.