Previous the halfway level of the 2024 WNBA season, the race for the Rookie of the 12 months award is basically down to 2 names, together with No. 1 choose Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky star Angel Reese.
Nonetheless, Corridor of Famer Shaquille O’Neal revealed his choose, which should not be arduous to guess for anybody paying consideration.
On Wednesday, Shaq defined why he is giving Reese his vote, claiming no bias in any respect regardless of their relationship and the truth that they each performed at LSU.
“I do know she remembers lots of people saying, ‘the way in which you play at LSU just isn’t going to translate on this sport,’ and I do know she took that to coronary heart,” O’Neal mentioned on ESPN’s Sportscenter. “So completely happy for her. So completely happy for her workforce. I am not saying this as a result of she went to LSU, however I feel she’s positively main within the Rookie of the 12 months race.”
O’Neal did not knock Clark, calling her a “large participant.” However it’s clear why he’d aspect with Reese.
Over time, O’Neal has been a mentor of kinds for Reese, who revealed earlier than the season that their tight bond goes past the basketball court docket. In an interview again in January, she mentioned issues between the 2 would not be completely different even when she weren’t enjoying basketball.
“He would not care about me as a participant, he cares about me as an individual,” Reese advised Lindsay Schnell of USA In the present day.
In the meantime, O’Neal has much more motive to push the Sky standout for Rookie of the 12 months honors. Solely per week after being named the president of basketball operations at Reebok in October 2023, he inked his first main NIL signee in Reese.
That is to not say that O’Neal’s endorsement is with out benefit. Reese ranks first amongst rookies in rebounds per sport (11.9) and second in factors (13.5).
However, when making a real comparability of the numbers, the argument for Clark is way stronger.
Reese tops Clark in solely two statistical classes — rebounds and subject purpose share (.402). Nonetheless, a deeper dive reveals an much more one-sided benefit for the Fever star.
From outdoors eight ft, it is no contest, with Reese capturing 25% (11-of-44) whereas Clark has shot 33.8% (77-of-228). Reese would not stray too removed from the basket as a six-foot-three ahead, in order that is likely to be an unfair comparability, however Clark has additionally posted higher numbers in shut.
Reese’s strengths shine below and across the basket. Although from eight ft or nearer, she’s capturing solely 43% (104-of-242), in comparison with Clark, who’s shot 54.3% (51-of-94) from the identical distance.
In the meantime, of Reese’s 115 subject objectives, 95 have been layups, making them at a 42.4% clip. Clark has had far fewer probabilities however delivered extra usually, placing dwelling 57.3% (47-of-82) of her layup alternatives.
Reese and Clark have impacted the WNBA tremendously whereas additionally serving to it develop, for which they deserve accolades and reward. However regardless of each being worthy candidates for the Rookie of the 12 months honor, it is actually a one-horse race.
