LeBron James gần 40 tuổi vẫn 'hot' nhất NBA, người đứng thứ 2 gây bất ngờ

Following a game on Wednesday night, LeBron James shared his admiration for women’s basketball, especially at the collegiate level, during a locker-room interview.

James contributed 25 points, along with seven rebounds and nine assists, in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-120 victory over the Washington Wizards that evening. When asked for his thoughts on the women’s game amid the ongoing NCAA Tournament, the four-time MVP highlighted the diminishing disparity between men’s and women’s basketball.

“I don’t think there’s much difference between the men’s and women’s game when it comes to college basketball,” he said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I think the popularity comes in with the icons that they have in the women’s game. You look at Angel Reese, you look at JuJu [Watkins], you look at Caitlin Clark, you look at Paige [Bueckers]. 

“You look at the young girl that’s at Iowa State, the freshman there [Audi Crooks]. You look at [Cameron] Brink … at Stanford. And that’s just to name a few. And the freshman that’s at Notre Dame [Hannah Hidalgo]. Because they’re not allowed to go to the NBA [after their freshman year].”

The recent matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the LSU Tigers, featuring standout players Clark and Reese, garnered significant attention. Drawing an average of 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, the game rivaled the viewership of some men’s games, exemplified by the Duke vs. NC State matchup, which attracted 15.1 million viewers.

Fans resonated with James’ comments, appreciating his perspective on the matter.

LeBron James sheds light on the potential advantages of extended college careers, particularly for female athletes, amid the contrasting age requirements between the NBA and WNBA drafts.

While NBA prospects must be 19, female players need to turn 22 in the calendar year of the draft. James acknowledges that this discrepancy presents challenges for female stars but highlights the opportunity for them to cultivate a lasting legacy during their college years.

“You’re able to build a real iconic legacy at a program,” he continued. “And that’s what we all love about it. That’s what we all love. We love the girl’s game because of that moment you actually get to see those girls [build to]. 

“That’s what makes the girl’s Final Four and the Elite Eight so great. Yeah, Iowa was a great team; Caitlin Clark is the reason we tuned in. You’re going to watch Purdue because of Zach Edey, because he’s a great player. We watched that Purdue-Tennessee game because of Zach Edey and [Dalton] Knecht.

“Players, depending on who they are, will drive the attention when it comes to viewership.“

However, James also acknowledges the drawbacks, noting that female players risk missing out on immediate professional opportunities after standout freshman seasons.

“It’s just a different time between the men’s and women’s,” he remarked. “And men can come out after their freshman year. If I have a big-ass season after my freshman year of college basketball, I’m going to the league. If a girl has a great season — like JuJu. JuJu, she can’t come out. If she could, you think she might. Maybe. But that’s the difference.” 

Despite this, the emergence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities has transformed the landscape for female college athletes, allowing them to earn substantial incomes while still in school. This contrasts starkly with the WNBA, where average salaries were significantly lower in 2023, highlighting the potential financial benefits of remaining in college longer for female players like Clark and Reese.