BREAKING: A two-time champion, suggested that Clark still needs to earn her place before representing the country on such a significant stage…

Kevin Durant Shares His Thoughts on Caitlin Clark’s Team USA Snub

The recent omission of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark from the Team USA lineup for the upcoming Paris Olympics has sparked widespread discussion. NBA star Kevin Durant recently weighed in on the matter during an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

“I still think there are proper steps you gotta take in our world to be considered an Olympian,” Durant said, according to Semafor’s Max Tani. “I think she’s gonna definitely be on one of these teams going forward, but right now there are better candidates out there, I think.”

Despite his stance, Durant acknowledged Clark’s influence on the WNBA, noting her significant presence and the increased visibility she brings to the league.

“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.”

Durant’s perspective might be met with mixed reactions, but his point aligns with the historical precedence of experience for Olympic selection. Traditionally, Team USA’s basketball rosters, both men’s and women’s, have been filled with seasoned NBA and WNBA stars, with few exceptions like Christian Laettner’s inclusion on the Dream Team.

Although Caitlin Clark is already making a significant impact in her rookie year, becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 100 points and 50 assists, her relative lack of experience was a key factor in her exclusion. The USA Basketball selection committee echoed this sentiment, stating that Clark needed more high-level experience before joining the Olympic team. The current roster includes seven players from the gold-winning team of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

While some fans argue that including Clark could have boosted publicity and views, Clark herself views the snub as motivation. “Honestly, no disappointment,” Clark said. “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.” (per ClutchPoints’ Jackson Stone).

Given her talent and drive, it’s likely that Caitlin Clark will be a key player in future Team USA squads.