Inside The Warriors

NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Makes Strong Caitlin Clark, Steph Curry Statement

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is often compared to Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry.

Joey Linn

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) against the Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at Footprint Center.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) against the Phoenix Mercury during a WNBA game at Footprint Center. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has been dominant in her WNBA rookie season. Getting better as the year has gone on, Clark is playing the bast basketball of her young professional career.

Leading Indiana to their first playoff berth since 2016, Clark is averaging a historic 19.2 points, 8.5 assists (leads WNBA), and 5.8 rebounds. Also leading the WNBA in average distance on her three-point makes, Clark is making her threes from even further than NBA range.

Via Indiana Fever on August 31, 2024: “Caitlin Clark is taking and making deeper threes than some of the best shooters in the NBA. Our rookie of the year is different.”

Speaking on Clark during an interview with Lindsay Schnell of USA Today, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal competed the WNBA rookie to Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry.

“When I see stuff on TV I’m like, OK, I’d like to see it in person. Well, I saw it in person,” O’Neal said. “She can play … from a basketball standpoint, she makes all the right plays, gets everybody involved and she has that Steph Curry (shooting) range.”

On if there’s any league-wide jealousy of Clark, O’Neal added, “There’s envious jealousy, there’s professional jealousy. Sure there’s a lot of people who are professionally jealous. I am."

Mentioning Curry again, O'Neal said, "I’m professionally jealous of a lot of people. I’m professionally jealous of Steph (Curry), he makes $60 million. But hey, that’s life.”

Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. / David Butler II-Imagn Images

Playing 19 seasons in the NBA, O’Neal made 15 All-Star teams and won four championships.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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