Jason Whitlock makes Caitlin Clark-Michael Jordan comparison amid Rookie of the Year race

Jason Whitlock has leaped to Caitlin Clark's defense connected societal media, going arsenic acold arsenic to opportunity that NBA teams successful nan Michael Jordan era weren't guarding nan six-time NBA champion arsenic overmuch arsenic WNBA teams are keeping an oculus connected nan Indiana Fever star. 

Whitlock, 57, made nan declare connected X while responding to a fan's station connected his return that Clark is much deserving to triumph nan WNBA's Rookie of nan Year grant complete rival Angel Reese, of nan Chicago Sky. 

The instrumentality commented: 'I cognize you don't for illustration nan turnovers that Caitlin has. However, truthful galore of those are connected nan players that Caitlin is passing nan shot too. Caitlin sees nan crippled truthful overmuch amended than her teammates and they are conscionable not fresh to play astatine her level.'

Whitlock's reply read: 'Great exaggerated. Clark's precocious turnovers are a nonstop consequence of nan unprecedented protect attraction she receives successful each azygous game. 

'Jordan wasn't defended nan measurement Clark has been. Plus, she's a risk-taker/gambler because she's truthful overmuch much skilled than 97% of nan players.' 

Clark's league-leading turnover complaint of 5.5 per crippled has been nan attraction of fans who aren't siding pinch nan 21-year-old defender to triumph nan ROTY award, contempt nan rookie being conscionable 1 of 2 players successful nan full convention averaging astatine slightest 15 points (16.7), 5 rebounds (5.9) and 5 assists (7.6).

On Friday, Clark broke nan Fever's franchise grounds of astir assists successful a quarter (7) pinch 9 successful Indiana's 96-85 upset complete nan Phoenix Mercury. 

Meanwhile, according to a nationalist sheet of voters who rank The Associated Press' Power Poll each week, Clark leads Reese successful nan title for ROTY honors astatine nan midpoint of nan season. 

Clark and Reese person garnered nationalist attraction pinch record-setting rookie seasons - starring to them being nan first rookie duo to make an All-Star squad since 2014 - truthful it's nary astonishment that they're nan starring candidates for nan award.  

The brace person helped nan convention to immense increases successful ratings, attendance and merchandise income and pinch truthful overmuch hoops still to beryllium played an statement tin beryllium made for either to triumph nan award.

But astatine nan halfway point, nan 15-member sheet gives nan separator to Clark successful a 9-5 vote. One personification didn't vote.

Clark is starring nan WNBA successful points accounted for (points positive points disconnected assists) pinch 713, according to ESPN. The Fever's No. 1 prime besides became nan first rookie to person a triple-double successful a crippled doing it successful a triumph complete New York. 

Reese group nan WNBA grounds for consecutive double-doubles pinch 13, passing Candace Parker's people of 12 group crossed nan 2009 and 2010 seasons. She's starring nan convention successful rebounding pinch 11.9 a game.

The sheet besides picked Las Vegas prima A'ja Wilson arsenic nan unanimous prime for Player of nan Year astatine this constituent successful nan season. Wilson felt she should person won nan grant past twelvemonth and this twelvemonth has been moreover much dominant. She is averaging 27.0 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

The Aces prima guardant is connected gait to shatter nan grounds for mean points successful a season. She became nan Aces´ all-time scoring leader connected Sunday.