Caitlin Clark’s surging popularity landed her as a featured guest for a game of Horse with Jamal Crawford during NBC’s “Basketball Night in America” last month.
On the same broadcast was another Indiana legend, Hall of Fame player and veteran announcer Reggie Miller. When asked about Clark’s game, Miller clarified that he was comparing her impact — through shooting and energy — to Boston Celtics’ sharpshooter Payton Pritchard, igniting some controversy.
Reggie Miller Compares Caitlin Clark to Payton Pritchard
During the segment, NBC host Maria Taylor asked Miller which current player he’d compare Clark to. Miller replied that her game was reminiscent of Pritchard’s.
To be clear, this comparison isn’t a slight against Pritchard. He helped the Celtics capture the 2023-2024 NBA championship and was named Sixth Man of the Year last season. Pritchard, who signed a four-year, $30,000,000 extension prior to the 2024-25 season, has recently averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 32.6 minutes while shooting 46.3% overall, 36.8% from three, and 86.8% from the line.
However, an important distinction remains: Pritchard has mainly been a role-player, whereas Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, is viewed as one of, if not the, future face of the WNBA.
Reggie Miller Doubles Down on the Clark-Pritchard Comparison
Expanding on his earlier remarks, Miller later joined the Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday, where he stood by his statement.
“I was going by game alone, like who does her game remind you of? And when I look at Payton Pritchard… they’re very similar,” Miller said.
“I was going by game alone, like who does her game remind you of? And when I look at Payton Pritchard… they’re very similar.”
– Reggie Miller on comparing Caitlin Clark to Payton Pritchard. (@Nutrafol) pic.twitter.com/nH0ak5itZn
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) March 3, 2026
Miller later provided further explanation for his comments.
“The question from Maria to me was ‘who does her game remind you of,’ it wasn’t historically or stature-wise who is she compared to, because if that was the case, obviously in the WNBA she has brought so much attention and eyes like a Stephen Curry.
“So if that was the question, then I probably should have said Stephen Curry, but I was going by game alone like who does her game remind me of and when I look at Payton Pritchard… they’re very similar.”
To further support his point, Miller offered several specific examples of his comparison.
“He’s probably a better scorer when he gets into the paint, but I was talking in terms of she loves to go left and that step-back three, deep three, that’s Payton Pritchard,” Miller explained. “Throw ahead, get the ball back, big quick moves, assists, to me that’s Payton Pritchard.”
Clark’s initial reaction was surprise, but Miller only saw it afterward. Clark has since brushed it off, even joking about it on social media.
He cited Pritchard’s recent play, particularly a 30-point performance in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on February 22, as further evidence backing his assessment. “To the basketball people, people really love Payton Pritchard,” Miller told Patrick.
Miller reiterated he would make the same comparison, though he joked about referencing other stars like Curry, Kyrie Irving, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Cade Cunningham, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Ultimately, Miller frames his comparison as a nod to Pritchard’s abilities, stressing it was never meant as a slight to Clark. He believes that as Pritchard continues to perform at a high level, more fans may come to appreciate the parallels he sees — fueling an ongoing debate among basketball fans. In the end, Miller’s comments highlight both players’ unique games and the excitement they bring to the sport.
