Boston Celtics legend and NBA champion Paul Pierce was in no mood to hear whatever rationale NBC Sports NBA analyst Reggie Miller might have offered when Miller compared Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark to another Celtics player.
When Miller was asked by NBC’s Maria Taylor on “Basketball Night in America” on Sunday, as the Los Angeles Lakers faced the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Miller said Clark reminded him of Boston’s Payton Pritchard. Clark was also on the broadcast Sunday night as a guest analyst.
Paul Pierce Not Happy with Reggie Miller’s NBA Comparison for Caitlin Clark
Clark’s reaction to Miller’s comment went viral on social media. While Clark is one of the WNBA’s biggest names and superstars, Pritchard is widely viewed as a role player for Boston. Pritchard has the ability to provide a spark off the Celtics’ bench, while Clark is a superstar starter for the Fever.
Pierce addressed Miller’s comparison on the “No Fouls Given” show.
“Like she (Clark) had the look of, like, ‘Bro, I was thinking more Steph Curry,'” Pierce said on Monday. “Her skill set and her magnetic pull. They’re not doubling him everywhere, face-guarding, denying him like they do her, like they do Steph.
“Did you see her in the USA game, in the Olympic game, where they were like denying her, they’re picking her up full? … He (Pritchard) 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”.
Paul Pierce says it’s a embarrassment that Reggie Miller compared Caitlin Clark to Payton Pritchard
“Like she had the look of like Bro, I was thinking more Steph Curry. Her skill set and her magnetic pull. They’re not doubling him everywhere face guarding denying him like they… pic.twitter.com/CVR34ND2Wy
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) February 2, 2026
Pierce also described it as an “embarrassment” that Clark was compared to Pritchard.
The NBC telecast was notable as the NBA returned to one of its former network homes after several seasons on TNT and ESPN. ESPN continues to carry NBA games and airs studio programming such as “NBA Countdown” and “Inside the NBA.”
NBC opened Sunday night’s broadcast with former pregame host Bob Costas introducing a highlight reel of past Lakers-Knicks matchups.
