Caitlin Clark joked that she would “rather retire” than eliminate the same dessert LeBron James removed from his routine while preparing for the 2025–26 NBA season, responding to comments the veteran forward made about diet changes during injury rehabilitation.
The 24-year-old WNBA star reacted on Instagram after an ESPN post highlighted James’ remarks from the podcast Mind the Game, where he explained that he stopped eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking wine while sidelined. “I’d rather retire than do this. This is why he’s him,” Clark wrote in the comment section.
James shared the details during a conversation with Steve Nash, explaining that the decision came as he missed the opening stretch of the season because of a right-side sciatic nerve injury.
“I wasn’t playing obviously as the season started,” James said. “So I needed to give up something. I gotta sacrifice something — and I actually did two things that I love, that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert.”
The Los Angeles Lakers forward said he “completely took it out,” initially planning to avoid the items through November while recovering. He ultimately continued the restriction into December and did not resume either until the start of the new year. “I kept going,” he said. “I didn’t have my first drink and my first piece of dessert until New Year’s. New Year’s Day. So I ended up going basically two months.”
For the unversed, James missed 14 games at the beginning of the 2025–26 season, including opening night of his 23rd NBA campaign, before returning to the court on November 18.
He described the dietary pause as challenging, particularly while dealing with stress from inactivity. “Not playing, being a little stressed, I maybe wanted a glass here. A glass there,” he said, adding, “But it was good to give my body a break.”
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Clark’s response aligns with her previously stated fondness for cookies. During a May 2024 press conference, the Indiana Fever guard said, “I like warm chocolate chip cookies, so I guess that… making those,” when asked to name an activity she enjoys outside basketball.
LeBron James Discusses Efforts To Support Women’s Basketball Growth
Separately, LeBron James recently addressed his role in promoting the women’s game as emerging stars continue to draw wider attention. He cited young players including Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and Juju Watkins as part of the sport’s rapid rise.
“We’re trying to do our part, continue to inspire the game, men and women,” James said. “Not only here in Los Angeles, not only in our hometown of Watts in LA, I mean, in Akron, but in LA and the Philippines and all over the world.”
He added, “So, you know, hopefully we are doing our part to continue to inspire the game that we love so much.”
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His comments came after collaborating with Watkins on a version of the LeBron NXXT sneaker featuring her initials, reflecting ongoing partnerships between established NBA figures and younger women’s basketball players as the sport expands its global reach.
