Despite Backlash, Payton Pritchard-Caitlin Clark Comparison Was Accurate

February 26, 2026 - 02:40

Hall of Fame sharpshooter Reggie Miller faced significant backlash recently for drawing a parallel between Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard and Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark. Many fans and pundits dismissed the comparison outright, citing the obvious differences in their profiles and career stages.

However, a closer look at Miller's core argument reveals his analysis was fundamentally correct. Miller was not comparing their stature or fame, but rather a specific, elite skill: the ability to shoot with deep, limitless range the moment they cross half-court. This "logo range" threat is a defining characteristic of both players' offensive games.

Pritchard, despite his role off the bench, has consistently demonstrated this gravity-defying skill in the NBA, forcing defenses to extend to unprecedented levels. Clark, of course, revolutionized women's college basketball with this very same weapon, pulling up from the center logo with regularity. The comparison was never about who is the better overall player; it was a focused observation on a rare and transformative shooting trait that both athletes possess at an exceptional level. Miller, recognizing a kindred spirit in long-range audacity, identified a perfectly valid technical similarity that transcends gender or league, highlighting how a specific skill can redefine offensive spacing.