The former NBA All-Star reveals why he chose Angel Reese instead of Caitlin Clark as Rookie of the Year

The fact that she has broken groundbreaking WNBA records in her last four games and led the Indiana Fever to their first playoff spot in eight years is not the end of the debate about the title of WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah told Fox News Digital during an interview at NBA Night in the Emirates Suite at the US Open on Wednesday that if he were in the running, he would choose Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese over Clark in the Rookie of the Year voting.

“I would say Angel Reese,” said Noah.

Noah's case for Reese, however, isn't based on statistical arguments. The 6'3 Noah likes the fact that the 6'3 Reese plays more similarly to the 6'0 Clark.

“When I watch her play, she reminds me a lot of myself,” Noah said.

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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) tries to pass the ball against the Las Vegas Aces during the first half at Wintrust Arena. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)

Reese's three-inch size advantage hasn't put her in a better category than Clark in almost every stat this year. Clark has better averages in points, assists, steals, blocks and every scoring percentage.

However, Reese has a clear advantage in rebounding. With 13.2 rebounds per game, he more than doubles Clark's current 5.8 per game.

In their head-to-head meetings this year, the Fever have beaten the Sky three out of four times. In two of those meetings, Reese has scored more points than Clark and in all four meetings, he has grabbed more rebounds than Clark. Clark has had more assists in all four meetings.

Reese's size advantage over Clark has led to the Sky rookie having stronger finishes in the box and some very physical blocks and block attempts. In some cases, Reese has also been called for hard fouls for her defense against Clark. In a game on June 16, Clark went for a layup, Reese didn't quite have the wingspan to block the shot, but got an intentional one when she hit Clark in the head from above instead.

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In the most famous meeting between the two players – the 2023 NCAA women's title game – Reese used her superior size to out-score Clark, scoring 15 points with 10 rebounds while Clark scored 30. Reese led LSU to a convincing 102-85 victory over Clark and Iowa.

Now that the pros are in the running for Rookie of the Year, Clark's superior offensive numbers and team success have put her in pole position to win the award with just six games left in the season.

Still, Reese has her supporters and could still receive votes for the award from some.

Noah is one of them. During his career as a defensive center, he finished one stat closer to Reese than Clark. Noah, who played for the Chicago Bulls from 2007 to 2016, is also open about how his bias influenced his choice for the award.

Caitlin Clark rushes to the basket against Chicago Sky guard Lindsay Allen during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Photo Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)

“She’s Chicago Sky, I’m Chicago,” Noah said.

Noah has seen up close what a transcendent young player looks like, one that is superior to his peers, at least at this point. When Derrick Rose joined the Bulls with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Noah watched his young teammate put together a dominant Rookie of the Year season and become the league's youngest MVP in 2011 at age 22.

Still, even Noah has to admit that Rose, who was 6'3″ tall and known for his goal-scoring ability, had a lot more in common with Clark than with Reese.

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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky look on during the game on June 1, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

On Wednesday night, Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to make 100 3-pointers in a season in her second career triple-double against the LA Sparks.

On Sunday, Clark scored the 595th point of her career against the Dallas Wings, surpassing WNBA legend Tamika Catchings as the best rookie player in a single season. Fever history.

In Friday's game against the Sky, Clark recorded the first 30-point, 12-assist game in WNBA history, becoming only the fifth player and first rookie to record at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game.

Just three days earlier, Clark set the record for most three-point shots by a rookie, surpassing the record originally set by Atlanta Dreams This is Rhyne Howard's book.

“That being said, Caitlin Clark is a beast,” Noah said after making his case for Reese as Rookie of the Year. “She makes this a much bigger deal.”

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