Caitlin Clark’s Reaction to NBA Comparison

Caitlin Clark’s expression said it all.

During her first appearance on NBC’s “Basketball Night in America” over the weekend, the Indiana Fever standout looked somewhat surprised when Reggie Miller, a former Pacers star, drew a comparison between her and Payton Pritchard from the Boston Celtics.

When host Malia Taylor asked Miller about which NBA player Clark’s style resembled, he stated, “I like Payton Pritchard from Boston. The way he handles the basketball.” He added, “He makes the big shots when the shot clock is running out. She’s not afraid of big moments and she’s like a soon-to-be champion.”

Pritchard, recently named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year, averaged 6.4 points in 18.7 minutes per game during the Celtics’ championship season in 2024.

Interestingly, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year kept silent during this exchange. She simply smiled awkwardly and glanced down, seemingly taken aback.

It’s worth noting that she is currently the third-best shooter in Indiana, behind Tyrese Haliburton and herself, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history.

On another note, Carmelo Anthony, a former NBA player who recently joined NBC Sports as an analyst, drew parallels between Clark and Lakers superstar Luka Doncic. He remarked, “Being able to play in that open court, seeing your vision, being able to shoot on every dime… it keeps the defense guessing all the time.”

Clark, who was the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, joined NBC Sports as a special contributor before the Knicks faced off against the Lakers, winning 112-102 at Madison Square Garden.