Despite the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of an extremely tight Playoff/Play-In race at the moment, LeBron James is still able to keep up with the goings-on in college basketball — in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
LeBron, however, has an excellent theory as to why women’s college basketball has taken a significant rise of late, to the extent that its popularity has now overshadowed that of the men’s. According to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, this has a lot to do with one Caitlin Clark.
Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James Speaks Out on NCAA Women’s Basketball
LeBron spoke to reporters after LA’s 125-120 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. The Lakers talisman was asked to share his thoughts on the storm that is women’s college basketball, which James saw as an opportunity to point out one significant advantage the women have over their male counterparts:
“I don’t think there’s much difference between the men’s and women’s game when it comes to college basketball,” LeBron said. “I think the popularity comes in is the icons that they have in the women’s game. You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu (Watkins), you look at Caitlin Clark, you look at Paige (Bueckers).
“… You’re able to build a real iconic legacy at a program and that’s what we all love about it. … That’s what makes the Final Four and the Elite Eight so great. Iowa was a great team, but Caitlin Clark is the reason we tuned in.”
According to LeBron, the fact that the men are allowed to turn pro after just one season, coupled with all the transfers that go down every summer, makes it hard to keep track of the stars in the men’s game. On the contrary, the girls aren’t allowed to enter the WNBA until they are at least 21.
“Players, depending on who they are, will drive attention when it comes to viewership. … At the end of the day, the star power that we have in the women’s game outweighs some of the men, too.”
“… Like JuJu, she can’t come out,” he said. “If she could, you think she might? Maybe. But that’s the difference.”
The man has a point.
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