Not a year has passed since Caitlin Clark joined the WNBA. Yet, she has already done a lot for the league and looks poised to continue helping it by driving more attendance and viewership.
However, not everyone in the WNBA seems thrilled to talk that much about Clark. Charles Barkley has chastised her detractors, calling them out for supposedly harboring " petty jealousness " toward the Indiana Fever star. However, Shaquille O'Neal doesn't see it that way, referring to the criticism as "professional jealousy." He even used his envy of Stephen Curry as an example.
"There's envious jealousy; there's professional jealousy," O'Neal said . "Sure, there's a lot of people who are professionally jealous. I am. I'm professionally jealous of a lot of people. I'm professionally jealous of Steph. He makes $60 million. But hey, that's life."
Shaq's perspective
It doesn't seem like Barkley and O'Neal see eye to eye regarding the Clark drama.
After all, "Sir Charles" appears angry at how some folks around the WNBA have treated the rookie when her positive impact on the league stands to benefit even her critics.
On the one hand, Shaq doesn't believe the attacks on Clark are unwarranted, saying that it's normal for people like him to be professionally jealous of other legends. Aside from his example of being envious of how much Curry earns in a season, O'Neal has also expressed his jealousy about not being in GOAT conversations like LeBron James.
Related: "I stay away from him when I'm walking" - Michael Jordan named the only athlete he ever feared
Clark's humility
"Big Diesel" also took a light shot at his good friend, essentially calling Chuck a loudmouth and remarking that railing at Clark is not equivalent to hating.
O'Neal wants the hyperbolic conversations surrounding the 22-year-old star to slow down a bit. Even though he admitted she is a great player, Shaq also wants other players dominating the league to "get the same props."
He mentioned Diana Taurasi, who has a legit case as the best WNBA player of all time, and A'ja Wilson, who has broken records this season and arguably deserves to be a unanimous MVP.
The good thing about Clark is that she has remained humble and even deflected some of the superlative praises thrown her way.
While she has continued to exude confidence on the court, Caitlin has avoided conflicts with her peers and the legends who have paved the way for her and other current players. For that reason and many others, the Fever star looks primed to be the face of the WNBA moving forward, which would likely result in increased jealousy, professional or otherwise.
Related: "People have made AI pictures of me, like, naked" - Angel Reese reveals she received death threats from Caitlin Clark fans
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