Jason Whitlock tips Caitlin Clark for Rookie of the Year award as NBA analyst claims Michael Jordan 'wasn't defended' like the WNBA star has been
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Jason Whitlock has leaped to Caitlin Clark's defense on social media, going as far as to say that NBA teams in the Michael Jordan era weren't guarding the six-time NBA champion as much as WNBA teams are keeping an eye on the Indiana Fever star.
Whitlock, 57, made the claim on X while responding to a fan's post on his take that Clark is more deserving to win the WNBA's Rookie of the Year award over rival Angel Reese, of the Chicago Sky.
The fan commented: 'I know you don't like the turnovers that Caitlin has. However, so many of those are on the players that Caitlin is passing the ball too. Caitlin sees the game so much better than her teammates and they are just not ready to play at her level.'
Whitlock's reply read: 'Great exaggerated. Clark's high turnovers are a direct result of the unprecedented defensive attention she receives in every single game.
'Jordan wasn't defended the way Clark has been. Plus, she's a risk-taker/gambler because she's so much more skilled than 97% of the players.'
Jason Whitlock has hit back at a fan who claims Caitlin Clark's high turnover rate in her WNBA rookie year is due to her teammates not being on the Fever star's 'level'
Whitlock added that Clark is being defended more closely than NBA legend Michael Jordan
The NBA analyst said on X that Jordan 'wasn't defended the way Clark' has bene his rookie year
Clark's league-leading turnover rate of 5.5 per game has been the focus of fans who aren't siding with the 21-year-old guard to win the ROTY award, despite the rookie being just one of two players in the entire league averaging at least 15 points (16.7), 5 rebounds (5.9) and 5 assists (7.6).
On Friday, Clark broke the Fever's franchise record of most assists in a quarter (7) with nine in Indiana's 96-85 upset over the Phoenix Mercury.
Meanwhile, according to a national panel of voters who rank The Associated Press' Power Poll each week, Clark leads Reese in the race for ROTY honors at the midpoint of the season.
Clark and Reese have garnered national attention with record-setting rookie seasons - leading to them being the first rookie duo to make an All-Star team since 2014 - so it's no surprise that they're the leading candidates for the award.
The pair have helped the league to huge increases in ratings, attendance and merchandise sales and with so much basketball still to be played an argument can be made for either to win the award.
Clark (R) is up against longtime rival Angel Reese (L) for the WNBA's Rookie of the Year Award
But at the halfway point, the 15-member panel gives the edge to Clark in a 9-5 vote. One person didn't vote.
Clark is leading the WNBA in points accounted for (points plus points off assists) with 713, according to ESPN. The Fever's No. 1 pick also became the first rookie to have a triple-double in a game doing it in a win over New York.
Reese set the WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles with 13, passing Candace Parker's mark of 12 set across the 2009 and 2010 seasons. She's leading the league in rebounding with 11.9 a game.
The panel also picked Las Vegas star A'ja Wilson as the unanimous choice for Player of the Year at this point in the season. Wilson felt she should have won the award last year and this year has been even more dominant. She is averaging 27.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.
The Aces star forward is on pace to shatter the record for average points in a season. She became the Aces´ all-time scoring leader on Sunday.
