NBA Commissioner Adam Silver used to be confronted concerning the therapy WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark has bought on the courtroom, and mentioned these “welcome to the league moments” are nothing new — and Clark “can do something about herself.”
The Iowa State phenom has garnered white-hot attention in view that joining the WNBA — so much of it over aggressive play that has sparked outrage amongst her fans.
At a press convention this week, Silver was once requested about the flagrant foul by Chicago Sky protect Chennedy Carter and the remedy of Clark more greatly:
JOE VARDON: Joe Vardon, The Athletic. You talked about the WNBA on your initial comments, I was once curious for your response to the onerous foul Caitlin Clark took last week. And then more extensively, when you have any concerns about her first couple of weeks in the in the league.
ADAM SILVER: I, you know, I I’ll depart the particular question in regards to the foul to my colleague, Commissioner Engelbert, I imply I other than as a fan, clearly, you recognize, there’s it’s now not– nothing new in basketball that there’s type of welcome to the league moments, particularly for heralded inexperienced persons.
But in fact, I need to see Caitlin handled relatively and appropriately in the league. I’d say it looks as if she will be able to deal with herself. She’s– she’s a tricky player.
I feel it can be lost on some people who find themselves new to basketball, in terms of somewhat bit of the controversy in the WNBA, what an incredible skill she is. , two Last Fours leading scorer, history of college basketball.
So I stay up for staring at her ongoing development in a league. I think ultimately that is very healthy for women’s basketball within the WNBA. It’s generating tremendous extra interest in fairness to the other players.
And in equity to Commissioner Engelbert, this didn’t just begin this yr. Unquestionably we’re seeing an acceleration of it with Caitlin. However, you know, many, particular person stars who came in this league within the remaining a number of years.
After which, you understand, once more, I’ve been with the league for a long time. So I was once there the early days with Val Ackerman when and of course, David Stern after we develop the WNBA. And in many ways, to me, this was once a long time coming.
If we had in the event you went back and checked out our authentic marketing strategy from 28 years in the past, we didn’t think it might be this sort of time lengthy timeline to more or less ruin into the sort of popularity we’re seeing now.
So in a roundabout way, you understand, I don’t want to make too big a subject about one explicit participant, one particular name.
However, you know, I, I believe the, the burgeoning rivalries in, in professional basketball, you see rivalries clearly amongst clubs but also among individual avid gamers too. And I think that can be ultimately just right for the sport.
However on the same time, there’s there’s also some larger societal issues at work. There’s indubitably. I don’t wish to cover from that, some having to do with race. They usually’re very obvious.
And I feel although sports historically has been a platform to individuals to talk straight away about these concerns, I don’t suppose we must hide from them. And I think the gamers are happy to have interaction on these considerations. They’re refined people. And but however then indirectly let let the public join part of these conversations. Smartly, and of course the media will weigh in.
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The publish NBA Chief Adam Silver Says Caitlin Clark Fouls Are ‘Welcome To The League Moments’ — ‘She Can Take Care Of Herself’ first appeared on Mediaite.