There’s been a lot of conversation about the treatment of Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark since she got into the league. But NBA legend Dwyane Wade seems to think that much of the way she’s been treated is normal for a star rookie entering into the league.
During a recent episode of his “The Why” podcast, Dwyane Wade had a pretty clear message for Caitlin Clark about the treatment that he thinks rookie should expect some sort of hazing when they get into the professional ranks for the first time.
“This Caitlin Clark conversation with everyone hazin’, I’m lookin’ at it like, I know what happened my rookie year when I came in. ‘You gonna hit that ground. You bout to feel this ground if you think you bout to keep comin’ in here.’ Like Jamaal Magloire and P.J. Brown tapped me up every time I ran through the paint,” Wade recalled about his own rookie season.
“People say hazin’, but this is all a part of, ‘Hey, you gotta show us that you built for this league,'” Wade continued. “This is basketball. You’re talking about some of the greatest athletes in women’s sports… What do you think they’re gonna do? You think they’re going to just let someone come in and just ‘Go ahead, give us 30!'”
Clearly, Wade doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with a little bit of hazing.
[The Spun]
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