The Phoenix Suns star addressed the Fever rookie’s Caitlin Clark’s snub from Team USA’s basketball roster.
Apr 12, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Keon Ellis (23) / Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY SportsTeam USA’s decision to leave Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark off of the women’s basketball roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics was one met with outrage from fans, and understanding from Clark herself.
Plenty of pundits and former players also commented on the decision and explained why it was made. But perhaps one of the best perspectives came from three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant.
During an interview with the Wall Street Journal that was released on Tuesday, he was asked if he thought Clark should have been picked for the Olympics roster. Durant’s answer can be heard at the 7:30 mark of the video below.
“I still think there’s proper steps you have to take in our world to be considered an Olympian,” Durant said. “I think she’s definitely going to be on one of these teams going forward, but for right now there’s better candidates out there I think. But Caitlin’s just gotta continue to keep showing up every day.”
Durant went on to comment on Clark’s growth on the court, and how that will coincide with the WNBA’s success. But it was the Suns star’s answer about Clark’s snub that stood out.
Durant respectfully said that he felt Team USA made the right decision, but also gave Clark props, and made it clear that he thinks she will be on plenty of Olympic rosters in the future.
Clark, 22, is reportedly one of the top alternates for the Team USA roster in the event of a player injury or withdrawal.
t’s true, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark was not selected to represent the United States in the upcoming Summer Olympics. We are talking about arguably the most important rookie in the entire league despite sharing the spotlight with other great players like Angel Reese and Cameron Brink.
Caitlin Clark had such a massive impact that she is being promoted to be part of this year’s Team USA at the Summer Olympics.
But when Olympian Kevin Durant was asked about her absence, he didn’t hesitate to speak his mind. Although Clark is a star on the rise, Durant still thinks there needs to be a proper protocol that she must follow. Just like everyone else.
Per Semafor’s Max Tani, Durant said: “I still think there’s proper steps you gotta take in our world to be considered an Olympian. I think she’s gonna definitely be on one of these teams going forward, but right now there’s better candidates out there, I think.
But Caitlin’s just gotta continue to keep showing up every day, and the WNBA is doing a great job of showcasing her. I’m seeing her games on ESPN every other day
. I’ve seen talks around; no matter what they’re talking about, there’s a lot of dialogue around the game right now, so that’s good as well…there’s so many great players in our league that Caitlin has helped shine a light on, and that’ll help the league grow over time.”
Caitlin Clark’s complicated first year as a pro
Caitlin Clark arrived at the NBA with a group of brilliant rookies who promise to completely revolutionize the league.
Despite being excluded for the Paris Summer Olympics, everybody still considers Clark to be a star and they can already see she will be massive for the WNBA.
Regardless of her status, she revealed how disappointed she is for getting snubbed. Speaking to Clutch Points, Clark said: “Honestly, no disappointment. I think it just gives you something to work for. That’s a dream. Hopefully one day I can be there. I think it’s just a little more motivation. You remember that.”
News
VIDEO: Caitlin Clark Got Embarrassed In The Weight Room After Joining Her Fever Teammates For Their Workout Grind
Caitlin Clark (Photos via @YahooSports/X) Caitlin Clark recently had some difficulty with a certain exercise in the weight room, and it was caught on camera. Clark is having a great rookie season with the Indiana Fever on a personal front but could…
Caitlin Clark’s boyfriend is catching heat for his performance at competition with her teammates
Many said he was not taking it seriously while other thought that was his true self X: @StrollerAdam It was an off day for the Indiana Fever on Sunday and the players decided to spend it having fun with a competitive game…
Video: Caitlin Clark Plays Pickleball vs. Fever Teammates Erica Wheeler, Lexie Hull
Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark took to the pickleball court on Sunday alongside her peers. Clark joined Fever teammates Erica Wheeler and Lexie Hull in a series of pickleball matches on Sunday. The three WNBA…
Weeks After Caitlin Clark Incident, Chennedy Carter and Angel Reese Might Fall in Bad Books of Jewell Loyd and Nneka Ogwumike’s Faithful
The Chicago Sky’s playing style is relentless. However, on more than one occasion, the WNBA world has seen their passions get the better of them. It is holding especially true for the Barbie-Chen duo of the team: Angel Reese and…
VIDEO: New York Liberty All-Star Sabrina Ionescu Takes Big-Time Shot At Caitlin Clark After Stunning Loss To Her Indiana Fever
Sabrina Ionescu and Caitlin Clark (Photos via @SNYLiberty & Getty Images) New York Liberty All-Star Sabrina Ionescu took a big-time shot at Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever following Saturday’s stunning defeat. Despite a strong performance from Sabrina Ionescu (22 points, three rebounds and…
Caitlin Clark exposed by her teammate during Indiana Fever’s press conference praising her humbleness
Caitlin opened up after making history Caitlin ClarkAP Caitlin Clark continues to amaze in the early stages of her professional career, earning the respect of sports experts. This year’s WNBA rookies are exceptional, drawing more fans to women’s sports. A lot of this excitement comes from the outstanding performance of the Indiana…
End of content
No more pages to load