Suns Veteran Shuns Pete Maravich Comparison as Caitlin Clark Braces to Rewrite NCAA History

Caitlin Clark is on the verge of making NCAA history and establishing herself as one of the best players in college basketball. However, the former Phoenix Suns player, Eddie Johnson wants everyone to pause and take a closer look. While Clark is close to surpassing Pete Maravich’s all-time NCAA record, Johnson is iterating that it’s not the same.

“Great player and cant wait to watch her at the next level, but stop with the comparisons to a man who did it in 3 years. averaging 40+ and no 3,” Eddie Johnson wrote on X.

Caitlin Clark surpassed Kelsey Plum’s 3,527 point record on February 15 to become the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball. And she was closer to the men and women record held by Pete Maravich with 3,667 points in his collegiate career. After leading the Hawkeyes to a 108-60 win over Minnesota Gophers, she only needs 17 points to make that record.

While Johnson doesn’t intend to discredit the Iowa star, he believes that Clark’s record is different from Maravich’s. Pistol Pete played in LSU from 1967 to 1970. The rules were different then. The NCAA adopted the 3-point line in 1986, 16 years after he made the all-time scoring record. The 5x All-Star had already retired from the NBA in 1980.

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On the other hand, Clark has made it so far with her signature long-distance 3-pointer. In her latest game, she’s broken Lynette Woodard’s 1981 record of 3,649 points. Basketball historians also argue that Woodard and Clark’s records aren’t the same as Woodard played in an era where women’s basketball was treated apart from the NCAA. But Clark is staying laser-focused on leading the team and remaining humble, despite what goes on online.

Eddie Johnson replies to disagreement over Caitlin Clark statement

Johnson believes the circumstances around Clark and Maravich’s records are different and hence should count as separate records. Some of his followers argued otherwise and the Phoenix Suns legend even responded to a few comments.

When one person commented that numbers don’t lie, Johnson said, “So how would her numbers look if she played in mens game and how would Petes look? Keep it seperate [sic].” He also noted a good few are missing his point as he said, “Lol. Its hard for u guys.”

Others countered that no one’s comparing Clark and Maravich. But Johnson doubled down and said, “She did not break his record.” While fans do agree that Pistol Pete did something historic, they don’t fully agree with Eddie Johnson’s take on Caitlin Clark. Do you agree with Johnson’s statements?