Julian Edelman, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, compared the treatment of Caitlin Clark in the WNBA to that of LeBron James when he came into the league.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Edelman discussed the Chennedy Carter flagrant foul that famously sent Clark to the floor in a blindside, off-the-ball play.
The one-time Super Bowl MVP said NFL rookies don’t typically get such hazing when entering the league. But, he added, “some of the quarterbacks maybe get some of this crazy stuff.”
He compared the behavior directed at or in response toward Clark to the treatment experienced by James in the NBA.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like this since when LeBron James came out,” he said.
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Is Caitlin Clark Being Treated Like LeBron James?
Not quite sure what to make of the Caitlin Clark-LeBron James comparison. The kid was already being dubbed ‘King James’ and won rookie of the year his debut season.
And I don’t recall him being repeatedly targeted with clotheslines and hip-checks during his first season. (Though it probably did happen from time to time.)
Right now, fellow players aren’t anointing Clark as the future of the league the way the NBA did with James. In fact, haters are doing their best to heap more praise on Angel Reese and others in the rookie class instead of giving Clark her flowers.
Edelman went on to say that Clark is ultimately the “hero” in the ongoing WNBA drama and the intense rivalries are ultimately “the best thing” for the league.
And, he adds, the fact that people across multiple sports are discussing the matter helps to draw interest.
“I ultimately think it’s the best thing for the WNBA. We’re sitting here talking about the WNBA with an NFL football player,” he said. “This is the best thing they can have for their league.”
“You got your hero, Caitlin Clark, you got the antagonist with [Carter], I think it’s a great storyline, and I think it’s ultimately going to help their league.”
RELATED: DiJonai Carrington Mocks New Caitlin Clark/WNBA Fans: ‘We Do Not Shut Up And Dribble’
They Need To Welcome New Fans
Edelman also noted that WNBA players should just enjoy the rivalry and stop trying to drive fans of one player or the others away from the game.
“They shouldn’t be so against the casual fan that’s coming in and watching this thing and having an opinion,” he said. “‘Welcome to a big league in America.’”
For instance, the way Connecticut Sun player DiJonai Carrington recently did when she mocked new WNBA fans drawn to the league by Clark. Fans who also happen to be outraged that her fellow players are hammering Clark on the court.
“Unfortunately for yall new fAnS, we do not just ‘shut up and dribble’ here,” she wrote. “Ya picked the wrong league.”
Telling fans not to watch your own unprofitable league is an interesting tactic.
As it stands right now, Clark and her rivalry with Angel Reese is the best thing for the WNBA. It’s a ratings and ticket sales boon for a league that consistently struggles to make money.
But how many of these ‘rivalries’ is she going to have to endure from players trying to make a name for themselves off her popularity?
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