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Kenyon Martin Warned Against Going After Caitlin Clark, Hours Before Indiana Draft: “Don’t Pick on the Little Puppy”

Published 04/16/2024, 10:30 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The women’s NCAA Tournament was just a hint of what to expect in the WNBA. Angel Reese, Cameron Brink, and finally, the star and face of women’s basketball Caitlin Clark are to be inducted into the pro games. Needless to mention, both players and fans are thrilled at the prospect. That also means a new refreshing challenge for the WNBA players making it even more interesting. However, right before the players jump into battle, former NBA player Kenyon Martin gave a heads-up to the WNBA elites. In the recent segment of The Gil’s Arena show, Los Angeles Sparks player Lexie Brown mentioned how the opponent teams won’t take it easy while playing against the 2x National Player of the Year. 

Martin, who was present at the show asked that the players hold back from targeting the rookie player. While he agreed that Clark doesn’t play like a rookie and her skills are much more advanced compared to a rookie player, he asked the WNBA players to go after the elite players instead of trying to take down the 22-year-old in her rookie season. 

“Go challenge the big dog in room. Go challenge the alpha in the room don’t pick on the little puppy in the room okay cuz she the rookie. Her game might not be though she the rookie… she might not play like a rookie but she’s still a rookie so like I said don’t go after her that way go after the alpha in the room,” Martin said.

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However, it seems that the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer would like some healthy competition and take on some challenges now that she is in the pro league. 

Caitlin Clark is excited to play her role for the Indiana Fever 

The Indiana Fever picked Clark as the 1 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Speaking of her debut in the league, Clark shared, “I think the biggest thing is the WNBA is so competitive right now. Every single time you step on the floor, it’s going to be a rivalry. I think so many teams are loaded with so much talent.” She further added, “This is the most competitive league in the entire world, [with] less than 144 spots, so you’d better bring it every single night.” She will join her former USA Under-19 squad teammate Aliyah Boston in the team. 

For those who are wondering about the impact of women’s basketball, 1,000 spectators’ tickets to the draft event were sold out within 15 minutes of becoming available. This is the first event since 2014-2016.

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Do you agree with Martin? What is your take on Clark’s “competitive” comment? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Pritha Debroy

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Pritha is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. After reporting on the luxurious lifestyle of celebrities for a year, she used that experience to cover the glamor side of the basketball world. She has expertly covered Larsa Pippen and Marcus Jordan's complicated love story and the lavish vacations of NBA superstars, among other off-court scoops.
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Edited by:

Caroline Joseph