Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain

Moderators: cupcakesnake, G R E Y, Doctor MJ

Godymas
Assistant Coach
Posts: 4,326
And1: 4,119
Joined: Feb 27, 2016

Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#1 » by Godymas » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:02 am

Now she may not set unbeatable records like those, but she’s clearly capable of putting up absurd state lines that will be historic anomalies. She’s also incredibly far ahead of her peers in terms of the game.

To be fair, Aja Wilson is also freakishly historic. Her numbers are just as insane. Aja could be the WNBA Wilt and Caitlin could be closer to an Oscar or even Jerry West.
Sealab2024
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,995
And1: 2,797
Joined: Dec 29, 2023
   

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#2 » by Sealab2024 » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:04 am

I watched the Fever V Lynx game on Sunday and I saw that girl cross somebody over so badly they fell to their knees. Just crumbled under themselves Then she led the Fever to an impressive victory. Girls got juice and the game was really fun to watch.
"AM I THE ONLY PLAYER ON THE BOARD THAT DOESN'T UNDERESTIMATE THOSE RABIES INFESTED NIGHTMARES"?
theforumblue
Lead Assistant
Posts: 5,093
And1: 5,281
Joined: Feb 18, 2012

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#3 » by theforumblue » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:06 am

yeah but she doesnt get offensive rebounds so kinda worthless.
screw these absolute garbage refs
picc
RealGM
Posts: 19,266
And1: 20,647
Joined: Apr 08, 2009
 

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#4 » by picc » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:14 am

She's been going nuts lately. I haven't been watching but my assumption is she's finally adjusting to professional game speed?

I hope she becomes the unanimous WNBA GOAT.
Jay 20
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,685
And1: 1,323
Joined: Jun 21, 2015
     

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#5 » by Jay 20 » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:19 am

picc wrote:She's been going nuts lately. I haven't been watching but my assumption is she's finally adjusting to professional game speed?

I hope she becomes the unanimous WNBA GOAT.


Yeah she's adjusting. I also keep bringing up to anyone who will listen that I think it matters that she really didn't have an off season.

Girls legs have to be gassed.
moderndarwin
Rookie
Posts: 1,205
And1: 1,298
Joined: Jul 17, 2013

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#6 » by moderndarwin » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:22 am

i just watched Aja Wilson for the first time on youtube. Never heard of her but she’s close to 6’5 200 and got mad skills. Wild. Wilma Chamberlain.

https://youtu.be/sICvMqt_AC4?feature=shared
Ice Man
Forum Mod - Bulls
Forum Mod - Bulls
Posts: 26,699
And1: 15,710
Joined: Apr 19, 2011

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#7 » by Ice Man » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:23 am

Hmmm, we'll see. Right now she's the WNBA equivalent of rookie Luka. She fills the stat sheet, you know that she will be a perennial All Star, and you're pretty sure that she'll be contending for MVP awards. More than that ... we shall see.
Ice Man
Forum Mod - Bulls
Forum Mod - Bulls
Posts: 26,699
And1: 15,710
Joined: Apr 19, 2011

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#8 » by Ice Man » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:25 am

Jay 20 wrote:Girls legs have to be gassed.


They are. Her 3 point shooting has fallen off so much that she's sometimes shying away from open shots, which is one reason that she got so many assists tonight. She has the deadest of dead legs. Fortunately for her, the league just started a 1 month break, for the Olympics.
picc
RealGM
Posts: 19,266
And1: 20,647
Joined: Apr 08, 2009
 

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#9 » by picc » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:26 am

Ice Man wrote:
Jay 20 wrote:Girls legs have to be gassed.


They are. Her 3 point shooting has fallen off so much that she's sometimes shying away from open shots, which is one reason that she got so many assists tonight. She has the deadest of dead legs. Fortunately for her, the league just started a 1 month break, for the Olympics.


So when they left her off the team, they were really trying to look out for her.

Great group over there at the Olympic committee. So much compassion.
Jay 20
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,685
And1: 1,323
Joined: Jun 21, 2015
     

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#10 » by Jay 20 » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:28 am

Ice Man wrote:
Jay 20 wrote:Girls legs have to be gassed.


They are. Her 3 point shooting has fallen off so much that she's sometimes shying away from open shots, which is one reason that she got so many assists tonight. She has the deadest of dead legs. Fortunately for her, the league just started a 1 month break, for the Olympics.


Agreed. I said the same thing when she was left off the team. At least she will get some time off.

And damn I just now checked the box score. 19 assists is phenomenal!
AI_Efficiency
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,878
And1: 908
Joined: Jan 18, 2017

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#11 » by AI_Efficiency » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:29 am

She could also be doing even better with a better supporting cast (although you can say that for nba rookies drafted to bad teams too). She plays with like one other good shooter and the rest are mediocre / barely shoot at all and just ruin spacing. I think the next highest assist average on her team is like someone with 2 assist a game too, so if Clark doesn’t create something, no one will. On a good team with other play makers she could have some type of Klay Thompson role, but instead she has to do everything.

Edit: it feels like her other teammates are black holes on offense when it comes to playmaking. If they put the ball on the floor going to the basket, you can assume they aren’t passing it back out.
rmontro
Sophomore
Posts: 235
And1: 113
Joined: May 18, 2024

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#12 » by rmontro » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:37 am

But her turnovers...
picc
RealGM
Posts: 19,266
And1: 20,647
Joined: Apr 08, 2009
 

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#13 » by picc » Thu Jul 18, 2024 2:51 am

rmontro wrote:But her turnovers...


Are a result of newness to the pro level and bad teammates.

One will get better with time, and the other will hopefully get better too.
Cowology
Forum Mod - Pistons
Forum Mod - Pistons
Posts: 41,114
And1: 4,595
Joined: Sep 05, 2004

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#14 » by Cowology » Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:02 am

Right now she reminds me of Gretzky. Yeah, I said it.
Pelon chingon
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,939
And1: 6,583
Joined: Jan 07, 2018

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#15 » by Pelon chingon » Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:03 am

She's clearly the best WNBA player of all time. It's time to stop hating and get on board.
User avatar
JimmyPlopper
Head Coach
Posts: 7,022
And1: 9,664
Joined: Sep 25, 2020
Location: Donald B's is the place to give me the pace

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#16 » by JimmyPlopper » Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:05 am

theforumblue wrote:yeah but she doesnt get offensive rebounds so kinda worthless.


Ah I take it you're a Danny Fortson fan
Kids played football, drove cars, went to school, celebrated life; while soldiers, heroes, their brothers struggled to find their way home from war; and young boys watched and grew wiser in their dreams.
User avatar
MrDollarBills
RealGM
Posts: 74,542
And1: 51,320
Joined: Feb 15, 2008
       

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#17 » by MrDollarBills » Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:06 am

Yeah guys I dunno maybe let her be herself and not heap all these crazy comparisons on her. She's standing on her own two feet

Threads like this are honestly weird and uncomfortable. Cringy
BAF Indiana Pacers 2024-25

C: Robert Williams
PF: Dean Wade
SF: Issac Okoro
SG: Jaylen "Partied with Diddy" Brown/Luke Kennard
PG: Malcolm Brogdon/Dante Exum

Please consider donating blood: https://www.nybc.org/
AI_Efficiency
Sixth Man
Posts: 1,878
And1: 908
Joined: Jan 18, 2017

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#18 » by AI_Efficiency » Thu Jul 18, 2024 3:45 am

MrDollarBills wrote:Yeah guys I dunno maybe let her be herself and not heap all these crazy comparisons on her. She's standing on her own two feet

Threads like this are honestly weird and uncomfortable. Cringy

I think it’s pretty normal to make comparisons to other players, certainly nba-wnba, but even across sports. Like someone the other day was asking me about angel Reese’s nba comp because they don’t watch any wnba. I said maybe like domantis sabonis, although like less of a passer and a better rebounder. Then they had some idea of how she plays. Whether my comp is accurate or not, who knows, but it’s still like a totally common thing to do imo.

This is like when people were saying Anthony Edwards reminded them of MJ and a tiny minority of people were saying we shouldn’t put this pressure on Ant. The guy has been competing at the highest levels his entire life and is out here saying he’s the number 1 option for team USA. I think he’ll be fine if people want to make comparisons about him, even if those comparison are premature, inaccurate, etc. (and Caitlin will be fine too).
User avatar
HMFFL
Global Mod
Global Mod
Posts: 53,287
And1: 9,925
Joined: Mar 10, 2004

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#19 » by HMFFL » Thu Jul 18, 2024 5:20 am

She's exhausted and it shows.
She's going to be fun to watch and I wish her well. Angel Reese interest ne to and they've helped expand the viewership. They've done far more for the game in my opinion than even Diana Taurasi has.

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using RealGM mobile app
Doctor MJ
Senior Mod
Senior Mod
Posts: 52,694
And1: 21,632
Joined: Mar 10, 2005
Location: Cali
     

Re: Caitlin Clark is like the WNBA equivalent to Oscar Robertson or Wilt Chamberlain 

Post#20 » by Doctor MJ » Thu Jul 18, 2024 5:21 am

MrDollarBills wrote:Yeah guys I dunno maybe let her be herself and not heap all these crazy comparisons on her. She's standing on her own two feet


I with MrDB here. I don't think comparisons like this are helpful.

It'd be one thing if Clark played like those guys, but she doesn't at all. Meanwhile there are modern guys she actually is similar to - you could say she's something of a cross between Curry & Nash. That's really cool!

I get that folks are trying to say what an outlier she's going to be, but honestly, there's a lot we can't yet know about how the arms race between Clark and opponents ends up going which will determine where she ends up stacking up on GOAT list. What we can do is talk about the specifics of her game, and connect those to other players they strike us of.
Getting ready for the RealGM 100 on the PC Board

Come join the WNBA Board if you're a fan!

Return to WNBA