The two-time NBA champion Mychal Thompson is speaking out to warn that the jealousy from the WNBA “old guard” of the Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark may backfire on them in a big way.
Thompson Sounds Off On Clark
Thompson told Outkick that he thinks that Clark should get a “Jeep” endorsement due to the jealousy that has poured in from her bitter critics.
“JEEP is an acronym that I’ve come up with about the way she has been treated and not welcomed into the WNBA … the acronym stands for jealousy, envy, egos and pettiness: J-E-E-P, JEEP. That’s the way the women have treated her, especially the old guard, the stars,” he explained.
Thompson went on to say that Clark is the “sole reason” that the WNBA has spiked in popularity. Unfortunately for Clark, he believes that this has driven the sport’s old guard “crazy.”
Thompson Is A Fan Of Clark
Thompson, 69, knows a thing or two about success in basketball. He was the first overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Thompson went on to win two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. These days, Thompson is a broadcaster for his former team.
Like Thompson, Clark was also the first overall draft pick in April’s draft. She was picked first by the Indiana Fever. Thompson explained that he’s been a fan of Clark’s since her sophomore year playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He even compared her abilities to those of the NBA greats Pistol Pete Maravich and Steve Nash.
“It’s not about her race or her sexual orientation, it’s about her style of play. We have never seen a woman shoot with that kind of range consistently and make the passes in the open court she does,” Thompson explained. “Her court vision is as attractive to watch as her shooting range.”
Related: LeBron James Offers Advice To Caitlin Clark: ‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’
Former NBA Guard Austin Rivers Defends Clark
Thompson isn’t the only former NBA star to defend Clark from the jealousy that she’s faced from her former players. Last month, the former NBA guard Austin Rivers said that it’s a “shame” that Clark hasn’t gotten more respect from other WNBA players after bringing so much attention to the sport.
“Let’s be honest,” Rivers said. “Women’s basketball, as a whole for the longest time, did not garner a lot of attention in the proper respect. For the longest time, the WNBA was synonymous with a lot of things. Not making a lot of money – actually losing money, to be completely honest.”
“Now [Caitlin Clark] comes along and brings the world in, and is now giving y’all that proper attention and respect,” he added. “And you guys are getting these brand deals and money, and instead of being appreciative and acknowledging that, you guys are coming at her with these … comments, talking about ‘It’s not just because of her. Blah, blah, blah.’ … Let’s stop it.”
Rivers concluded by saying that it’s “not a coincidence you guys are just now chartering flights her rookie year…. It’s not a coincidence. It’s the Caitlin Clark effect.”
Check out his full comments on this in the video below.
In the short time that she’s been in the WNBA, Clark has brought more eyeballs in the sport than ever before. It’s sad that her fellow players have chosen to respond with jealousy and pettiness rather than giving her the love and the respect that she deserves.
In the end, hopefully Thompson is right, and this jealousy blows up in Clark’s haters’ faces!
More about:WNBA
Read This Next
