"A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery."
-- James Joyce, Ulysses

In Silicon Valley, the mantra "move fast and break things" serves as a guiding principle for innovation and progress. It encourages taking risks and embracing failure as necessary steps toward success. This mindset perfectly encapsulates why the brilliant Caitlin Clark might ultimately rank near the top among the game's greats.

Clark's style of play is nothing short of spectacular. Watching her navigate the court, knowing she might launch a 40-footer or thread a bullet pass through traffic at any moment, leaves spectators of all ages with mouths agape. It’s not just fans who are stunned by her movement and daring; opponents and teammates alike must react to her unique production and risk-taking. Now that she has rediscovered her shooting form in the second half of her rookie season, the one drawback against Caitlin Clark's magnificent year may arguably be her sky-high turnover rate. However, a deeper dive into turnovers among NBA and WNBA rookies—and into risk-taking more broadly—suggests that her high turnover rate might be one of the clearest signs of her path toward greatness.

NBA analytics legend John Hollinger was one of the first to highlight the positive correlation between high turnover rates among rookies and future chances at stardom. With this in mind, Clark's 5.5 turnovers per game can be seen in a new light. Only three rookies in WNBA history have even averaged 4 turnovers per game. One of them was Hall of Famer and four-time champion Cynthia Cooper, and another is Sabrina Ionescu, who may also be destined for the Hall of Fame.

Among NBA rookies, the pattern is consistent. Of the 23 rookies with the highest turnover rates who are eligible for the Hall of Fame, nine have been inducted. Players like Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, and Isaiah Thomas were all immediately some of the highest turnover players in the league during their first season. Notably, this list doesn't include future HOFers like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Kyrie Irving—all of whom had 3.5+ miscues per game as rookies. If we zoom out further, 18 out of the 52 NBA rookies with the highest turnover rates have earned their place in Springfield. Players who are willing to take risks and push boundaries early in their careers often go on to achieve remarkable success.

Iconic WNBA players such as Cynthia Cooper, Sue Bird, Lisa Leslie, and Rebecca Lobo are all among the top 15 rookies with the highest turnover rates. When a rookie is given the freedom to experiment and make mistakes, it demonstrates the trust and belief the coaching staff has in their potential. For the Fever, that potential has been realized quickly as Clark has become much more effective each month as the season has progressed, especially since returning from the Olympic break. Over her last three games, Clark has put up GOAT-like numbers, averaging 25.3 PPG and 12.7 APG on 50% shooting. Her ascendancy has coincided with improved team success, as well, as the Fever have won 6 out of their last 9 games. Through the trials and tribulations she faced earlier in the season, buttressed with the confidence her team has shown in her, she has been granted an unrivaled license to spread her wings. Not worrying about turnovers has allowed her to push her limits and explore opportunities other players might never dare to take.

We saw a similar story with Victor Wembanyama, who looked out of place at times in his rookie year as a center, averaging 3.7 turnovers per game. However, as the season wore on, the turnovers seemed to matter less in context as he ascended to being one of the best players in the league.

As Hollinger has pointed out, a high turnover rate illustrates a player who has the vision and creativity to see opportunities on the court that others might miss. As Clark gains experience and refines her decision-making skills, she will find the balance between aggressive play and ball security. Yes, Clark is leading the league in turnovers and may go down as one of the highest-turnover rookies and players in basketball history. But that might be exactly what makes her development so exciting. Her ability to see the game differently and her willingness to push boundaries are the very qualities that could propel her to greatness.