After years of being called the female Steph Curry, Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller took the road less traveled. When asked which NBA star Caitlin Clark plays like on the NBC broadcast, Miller answered, “I like Payton Pritchard from Boston. The way he’s able to handle the basketball, he makes big shots when the shot clock is running down, a lot like this young lady right here, [he] isn’t afraid of the big moment and is a champion like she is soon to be.” And well, Clark tried hard to remain professional — and she did — but still gave a side-eye that quickly went viral. The conversation hasn’t ended there. 

Clark, ever the good sport, continued the running joke despite clearly disagreeing with the claim, much like many fans. After Pritchard drained a clutch buzzer beater at the end of the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks, Clark quoted that clip with multiple smirking emojis. As Clark ramps back to full fitness, the Payton Pritchard comparisons aren’t going away, courtesy of Clark’s younger brother Colin Clark.

Caitlin Clark released some footage from her Indiana practice, which included the first look at her new Nike Kobe 6 Protro PE’s. It included stills of Clark shooting her trademark long-range three-pointers. Colin Clark, being the proper younger brother, immediately trolled the WNBA star in the comments with just three words. “Payton Pritchard type,” Colin wrote. Well, the Pritchard comparisons will likely remain in the history books as a long-running joke.

To be clear, Reggie did not mean it as an insult. In fact, he placed Clark among the best shooters in Indiana alongside himself. Admittedly, Pritchard and Clark are prolific outside shooters and strong ball handlers. However,  Clark is a focal point for the WNBA and the engine of the Indiana Fever, while Pritchard is just a part of the system. According to teammate Sophie Cunningham, it is “probably not the best comparison for the generational player that Caitlin is.” Paul Pierce called it an “embarrassment”. He pitched Curry as a more suitable parallel. 

“They’re not doubling him everywhere, face guarding, denying him as they do her, like they do Steph. Did you see her in the USA game in the Olympic game where they were like deny, they’re picking her up full,” he stated. “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.” While Curry remains the most popular comparison, Candace Parker offered a more nuanced take.

Candace Parker Points Out One Major Difference Between Steph Curry And Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark, like many, has admired Steph Curry since her childhood. She has been inspired by the greatest shooter of all time. That is carved in stone. The comparisons were evident right from Clark’s high school days, because long-range shooting is synonymous with Steph Curry at this point. However, with regard to her overall game? She is not exactly like the Golden State Warriors star, according to Candace Parker. 

“I know people are quick to say Steph Curry, although I do think rangewise 100% like as soon as Caitlin steps in the building, like she can shoot it and make it from anywhere,” Parker said on Post Moves with Aliyah Boston. “But Steph Curry’s off the ball a lot, and Caitlin’s not. So, I think it’s kind of like a hard comparison.”

That is the central point of difference between Steph and Caitlin Clark. Curry is not your traditional point guard, while Clark trends towards that. She is the engine, the puppet master if you will. On the other hand, Curry is always moving. His off-ball movement is arguably the best in basketball history. Clark’s usage rate of 26.2% (2024) ranks in the top 10 in the WNBA. Curry has been largely outside of that zone in his career. As a rookie, that number was 21.3% for Curry. For Parker, Clark is a mixture of 3 NBA players. 

“I think range like Steph. I think in terms of operating out of pick and roll like Trey,” She said.  “And I think in terms of like secondary and getting up fast shots like Steve Nash, and I think all the great ones, there’s not one player that you can compare them to.” That feels like a fairer comparison than Payton Pritchard.