Caitlin Clark Joins NBC Pregame for Lakers-Knicks Debut
NBC adds Caitlin Clark as a special contributor for the Feb. 1 Sunday Night Basketball pregame at Madison Square Garden.
Overview
NBC announced Tuesday that Caitlin Clark will join "Basketball Night in America" as a "special contributor" for the Feb. 1 Sunday Night Basketball pregame when the Los Angeles Lakers play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, NBC said.
The hire coincides with NBCUniversal's launch of "Sunday Night Basketball" and follows Clark's marketing relationship with Xfinity announced in March 2024, records show.
Caitlin Clark said in a statement released by NBC that she is "really excited to be part of the Basketball Night in America crew" and praised Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady as "legends of the game."
Clark is a two-time WNBA All-Star, was an All-WNBA first-team pick in 2024, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and the 2024 Rookie of the Year, and scored 3,951 career points at Iowa, records show.
NBC said Clark will return March 29 when the New York Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it is unknown whether she will address the WNBA labor talks that she called "the biggest moment" for the league last month.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the move as a celebratory fit, using laudatory descriptors (e.g., “iconic,” “stellar”), foregrounding NBC executive praise and Clark’s positive statement, and emphasizing her accomplishments. Editorial choices downplay potential conflicts — commercial ties and labor-dispute implications — and omit skeptical or critical perspectives, producing a promotional tone.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Caitlin Clark praised Maria Taylor, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady as 'legends of the game'.
She is a two-time WNBA All-Star, All-WNBA first-team pick in 2024, No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, and 2024 Rookie of the Year.
NBC said Clark will return on March 29 when the New York Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Clark scored 3,951 career points at Iowa, becoming the greatest scorer in NCAA Division I history.
History
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