Caitlin Clark Declared 'Face of the NBA' by Former Player

The debate over who should hold the coveted title of "face of the NBA" has taken an unexpected twist, with a former player suggesting a name few saw coming: Caitlin Clark. Yes, you read that right – the *WNBA* star.

Former NBA player and North Carolina first-round draft pick Rashad McCants made waves on social media this weekend with a bold declaration. "THE FACE OF THE NBA IS CAITLIN CLARK!!!" he proclaimed on X (formerly Twitter). "Yea I said it!!!! She has handled criticism better than the people you consider THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!!! @CaitlinClark22 your the GOAT!!!" Subtle? Not exactly.

McCants pointed to Clark’s undeniable magnetism and ability to draw crowds, citing the Indiana Fever's upcoming exhibition game against Brazil’s national team in Iowa. Tickets for the game reportedly sold out in less than an hour – and let’s be real, preseason games don’t usually get this kind of buzz. Additionally, the Chicago Sky were prompted to relocate their home games against the Fever from the smaller Wintrust Arena to the larger United Center. Talk about star power.

"Like I said, THE FACE OF THE NBA!!! This is the metric," McCants continued. "Sold out in minutes. Preseason!!! We witness her get blitzed by peers, alumni, randoms, politicians, and above all else women!! She never ran from the challenge. Accepted it and rose above it! Goat!" Clearly, McCants is a fan – and he’s not holding back.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s own stars have weighed in on the pressures of being the face of the league, and some are less than enthusiastic about the role. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards recently said he didn’t want the title, a sentiment Los Angeles Lakers legend LeBron James empathized with. "Why do you wanna be the face of a league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s--- on everybody?" James asked reporters last week. "That responsibility – it’s just weird. It’s weird energy."

James, who has shouldered the burden of being a global basketball icon for decades, expanded on Edwards’ comments, acknowledging the weight of the responsibility. "I didn’t ask for it, but I knew there was a responsibility for me – to my family, my friends, my community, and whoever was going to follow my journey," he said. "I’ve always taken that seriously... but I feel Ant. I understand. It’s just weird energy."

It’s worth noting that Clark, a standout player for the Iowa Hawkeyes and now a rising WNBA star, has been making waves in basketball circles for her skill, resilience, and ability to command attention. While McCants’ claim might be hyperbolic (okay, it definitely is), it does highlight one thing: Clark is undeniably a force to be reckoned with – whether you think she’s the face of the NBA, WNBA, or just basketball as a whole.