Reggie Miller had social media heavily debating his comparison of the WNBA superstar, Caitlin Clark. Even the Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce had to comment on it the morning after.
As Clark made her broadcast debut on NBC Sports ahead of the New York Knicks–Los Angeles Lakers matchup, she received plenty of praise from an Indiana legend, Reggie Miller. While he was being complimentary of Clark's game, comparing the Indiana Fever star to Celtics guard Payton Pritchard left the internet confused.
"Like, she had the look of like, bro, I was thinking more Steph Curry," Paul Pierce said in disbelief.
While the former NBA champion Danny Green felt he understood what Miller meant, suggesting that Clark and Pritchard have similar games on the court, and simply erasing all thoughts of impact beyond what takes place on the floor, Pierce still disagreed.
"Her skillset and her magnetic pull-they're not doubling [Pritchard] everywhere, face guarding and denying him. Like, they do her like they do Steph,” Pierce added. “Did you see her in the USA game in the Olympic game, where they were like, deny they're picking her up full? He doesn't lead the team in scoring. I love Payton, that's my little brother. Her gravitational pull is on the same level as Steph's in the WNBA."
As Green later added, Pritchard is no "slouch" in the NBA. Coming out of Oregon in 2020, Pritchard was a first-round pick for the Celtics. Being a late first-rounder, he didn't average more than 20 minutes on the court throughout his first three NBA seasons. It was a slow burn to have an impact.
By year four, Pritchard played a full-time bench role for the Celtics, averaging 9.6 points on 38 percent shooting from deep amid their championship-winning run. Last season, Pritchard had a career year off the bench, earning the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award by producing 14.3 points while knocking down 40 percent from three.
It's not an outlandish knock from Miller, but you'll have a hard time finding somebody to agree with the idea that Caitlin Clark can't be compared to an NBA MVP. Since landing in the WNBA as the top pick in 2024, Clark has averaged 18.5 points while shooting 32 percent from three, taking 8.7 attempts per game. She was in the MVP race as a rookie, won Rookie of the Year, and became an All-Star twice already.
Clark's reaction might not have been actual anger, as basketball fans speculate, but the pushback on Miller's suggestion makes it clear that the NBA legend's belief is not a popular one amongst fans.
Newsweek