Shaquille O’Neal knows firsthand that basketball isn’t always a slam dunk.

And it’s especially true when just starting out in the professional leagues. It’s why he’s encouraging breakout star Caitlin Clark to power through some of the adversity being shown her way during her first WNBA season.

“I think they described it as ‘rites of passage’,” the former NBA player told E! News in an exclusive interview, alongside his new Lucky 13 gameshow co-host Gina Rodriguez. “When you’re a great college player and come to the professional level, you have to prove yourself.”

“A lot of people think it’s fair, unfair—it’s the nature of our business,” Shaq further explained. “I had to go through it. Once you pass the rites of passage, everything will be fine.”

And Shaq isn’t the only one encouraging Caitlin to keep her head up and in the game. Earlier this year Brittany Mahomes—a former collegiate and professional soccer player—shared a motivational message with the 22-year-old after a challenging game.

“@caitlinclark22 keep doing your thing!!" Brittany wrote on her Instagram Story June 2. "You're a baller and it's incredible to see what you're doing for the game and women's sports!!"

Among some of the challenges Caitlin has had to face since joining the Indiana Fever have been what appear to be fouls aimed directly at Caitlin, with some being declared flagrant-1 violations, or "unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent," according to the NBA and WNBA rules.

But thankfully, Caitlin is taking it all in stride. “It is what it is,” she said after her June 1 game against Chicago Sky, according to the Associated Press. “It’s a physical game.”

And instead of getting bogged down with other people’s supposed feelings about her, Caitlin is reveling in her achievements. After all, being the No. 1 overall draft pick for the WNBA—after making history as the NCAA Division I basketball's overall top scorer for both men and women—is no small feat.

"This is a dream come true," she said in her first press conference with the Indiana Fever in April. "I can't think of a better place for myself to start my career, a place that loves basketball, supports women's basketball and an organization that really does things the right way and has a championship pedigree." 

And for more of Shaq and Gina, tune into the premiere of Lucky 13 on ABC July 18.

- Reporting by Rachel Smith

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