WNBA: NBA legend Carmelo Anthony addresses Caitlin Clark incident

NBA legend Carmelo Anthony addressed a viral on-air incident involving fellow Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and WNBA star Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever. It happened during Clark’s guest broadcasting debut on NBC’s NBA pregame show on Feb. 1.

The 24-year-old Fever guard appeared alongside Miller, Anthony and NBC host Maria Taylor. The segment aired before the New York Knicks faced the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden.

During the broadcast, Miller praised Clark as one of Indiana’s top shooters while jokingly ranking himself below her. The 60-year-old former Indiana Pacers standout listed the ranking as Clark, Tyrese Haliburton and then himself.

Miller’s praise drew extra attention when he compared Clark to Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard. He made the comparison after being asked which NBA player Clark most reminded him of. 

Miller explained that Pritchard handles the ball well and makes big shots late in games. He said Clark shares those traits. He noted the WNBA star isn’t afraid of big moments and has the qualities of a future champion.

Many fans and analysts felt the comparison was surprising given Clark’s on‑court role and impact. They found Miller’s pick head-scratching for a star of her stature. 

Following Miller’s comment, cameras captured Clark’s smile shift to a surprised, almost skeptical look. Her reaction quickly went viral online. 

Caitlin Clark, WNBA phenom

Clark was drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever in 2024. She has quickly become a transformative player, helping the team rise in the WNBA standings.

The Fever star also made an immediate impact in the league, earning unanimous Rookie of the Year honors in 2024. She set rookie single-season records with 769 points and 337 assists during her debut season. Clark also broke the WNBA single-game assist record with 19. 

Her outstanding play earned her a spot on the All-WNBA First Team, the first rookie since Candace Parker in 2008. Clark was also named a WNBA All-Star in both of her first two seasons. She also became the first rookie in WNBA history to record a triple-double, achieving two in a single season.

Carmelo Anthony believes Caitlin Clark deserves a better comparison 

Speaking on the latest episode of the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony said he was surprised by Miller’s comparison. He believes Clark deserves a comparison to bigger NBA stars than Pritchard.

“I was hearing it loud as [expletive] in my ear, and when he said Payton Pritchard, it just caught me off guard… He wasn’t completely trippin’, but he was trippin’,” the 41-year-old legendary forward said.

Anthony thinks Clark’s skills go beyond simple comparisons to any single NBA player. 

“She got a lil’ Steph [Curry], [Tyrese] Haliburton.” Miller continued, “She plays a little like Luka [Doncic]. She knows angles. She manipulates your offense.”

 

Melo & Boogie had their own Caitlin Clark player comparison after her reaction to Reggie Miller

Melo: “She got a lil’ Steph, Haliburton.”

Boogie: “Payton Pritchard not even passing … that man is strictly a bucket.” pic.twitter.com/HDEUoBtEer

— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) February 16, 2026

Anthony’s comments reflect what a lot of fans and analysts also believe. They believe Clark’s scoring, playmaking, and leadership skills justify comparing her to a more prominent NBA player than Pritchard. 

The post WNBA: NBA legend Carmelo Anthony addresses Caitlin Clark incident appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/wnba-nba-legend-carmelo-anthony-addresses-caitlin-clark-incident/