Caitlin Clark has hailed LeBron James as the "greatest basketball player of all time", yet she has dismissed comparisons between herself and the NBA superstar. After a record-setting stint at Iowa, where she left college as the highest scorer in NCAA history, Clark was the top pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She dominated on the court, earning Rookie of the Year accolades while averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a league-leading 8.4 assists per game, setting several records in the process - including the single-game assist record (19).

Clark guided the Indiana Fever to their first playoff appearance since 2016 and is spearheading a revolution in women's sports. Consequently, she has been likened to sporting legends like James.

In 2003, James was the Cleveland Cavaliers' first overall pick, winning Rookie of the Year himself. He has since ruled the NBA for over two decades and has been compared to Clark as she electrifies packed stadiums and attracts new audiences to women's sports.

However, while Clark holds James in high regard, she does not want to be compared to him - or anyone else. In a conversation with David Letterman, the 23-year-old stated: "I don't want to compare myself to anybody else. I don't like that.

"I hate saying this because LeBron is, like, the greatest basketball player of all time, but obviously, he didn't even go to college, and he had all these expectations coming out of high school to be, like, the greatest player ever, and obviously, that's a lot. Like, that's a lot to take on your shoulders and a lot for the NBA at the time.

"He's obviously lived up to it, and he's still one of the best players - if not the best player - in the world still... It's incredible what he's done for the game of basketball and the way he's carried himself. I've always been a fan of him."

Clark is aiming to emulate James' career path, which was marked by sky-high expectations and a meteoric ascent to fame. Clark has earned accolades from the basketball legend himself, as James has acknowledged the pressures she faces.

Speaking of Clark, James expressed his admiration: "I have a great deal of respect for Caitlin Clark, because I know exactly what it means to be drafted, be the face of a franchise, and also get the scrutiny from a lot of people that don't believe you're ready for the next jump, don't believe you're ready for the big leagues, and just don't think that you belong," adding, "And I remember that when I came into the league at eighteen years old how many people doubted me and hoped and prayed that I'd fail."

James noted his connection to Clark's journey, saying: "And so, me watching Caitlin and seeing what she's doing, I've been in support of her since day one, because I remember myself going through that, and she has my support 100 percent."

Clark's Fever will kick off the 2025 WNBA season against Angel Reese's Chicago Sky on May 17.