Real recognizes real. When the greatest scorer in NCAA history tips her cap to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, people notice. It didn’t take a long speech or a press conference for Caitlin Clark to show her appreciation for LeBron James. Just one word on Instagram was enough to send a clear message about where the Indiana Fever star stands on the basketball royalty hierarchy.
How Did Caitlin Clark Honor LeBron James After the Lakers Win?
James was feeling good after the Lakers took down their crosstown rivals, the Clippers, 135-118 on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The veteran forward posted a reel on Instagram showing scenes from before and after the victory, captioning it with a simple crown emoji. Clark didn’t hesitate to validate that sentiment. In one of the top comments on the post, the Fever guard wrote just one word: “King.”
The social media interaction highlighted the mutual respect between the two stars, a quality that fans have closely tracked online.
caitlin at a lakers game when pic.twitter.com/JNGfaIhFVQ
— correlation (@nosyone4) November 28, 2025
Clark is reciprocating her respect for James after receiving steady praise from him since she entered the league two seasons ago as the top pick. While Clark’s 2025 campaign was cut short due to ankle and groin injuries, the bond between the two generational talents has remained strong.
James has frequently spoken about the unique pressure that comes with being a generational prospect, a reality he shares with Clark. He explained his connection to her situation in an interview with Esquire Magazine last September.
“I have a great deal of respect for Caitlin Clark, because I know exactly what it means to be drafted, be the face of a franchise, and also get the scrutiny from a lot of people that don’t believe you’re ready for the next jump,” James said.
He continued, “And so, me watching Caitlin and seeing what she’s doing, I’ve been in support of her since day one, because I remember myself going through that, and she has my support 100 percent.”
The feeling is definitely mutual. Clark has praised James for his longevity and his genuine interest in the WNBA. She spoke about his support in a Time Magazine interview last December.
“You can tell he really watches and turns it on. And he has been a big fan of myself from college and now in the W. I mean, he’s the greatest basketball player of all time. So I think that’s pretty cool,” she said.
While James is back on the court, he tallied 25 points, six assists, and six rebounds against the Clippers in just his third game back from a 14-game absence due to a sciatica injury. Clark has stayed busy during her offseason. She recently earned a call-up to the United States Women’s National Team, a major milestone after she missed the roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She also traded the hardwood for the fairway earlier this month. Clark participated in the ANNIKA Pro-Am Golf Tournament in Belleair, Florida. She had plenty of support there too, as Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham and best friend Lexie Hull joined her on the course to serve as caddies.