New York Knicks legend thinks he could shut down Caitlin Clark

After a whirlwind rookie season, Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has some time to unwind during the offseason. She was seen sitting courtside at an Indiana Pacers game in November 2024, but one NBA legend remarked that he could slow Clark down.

New York Knicks legend and current color commentator Walt "Clyde" Frazier said during a Knicks-Pacers game after the camera panned to Clark, "She doesn't look that formidable. I can stop her."

At 79 years old, Frazier was likely just saying that in a joking manner. Players 50 years his junior had an impossible time keeping Clark from getting her numbers.

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Caitlin Clark has arguably been the greatest asset women's basketball has ever had since her emergence in the WNBA this year. And while there have been the highs that come along with that, it's not exactly been all smooth sailing. Let's take a look back at all the highs and lows of her rookie year.

Clark earned her first All-Start nod in her rookie year, gaining over 700,000 votes from fans, nearly 100,000 more than Aliyah Boston in second place.

After a rough start to the year, Clark and her Indiana Fever team were able to make the playoffs as the sixth seed in the WNBA. Despite a first-round elimination at the hands of the Connecticut Sun, Clark's impact was palpable, with the Fever making their first post-season appearance since 2016.

Caitlin Clark was named to the WNBA all-first team at the conclusion of the regular season.

The Indiana Fever star rookie joins A'ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas on the prestigious list.

It's an interesting turn of events for Clark. In the summer of 2024, one NBA legend said that she did not deserve to be on the United States women's Olympic team because she wasn't one of the 12 best players.

Former Indiana Pacers great and NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller made his opinion known on whether Caitlin Clark should have been a part of the US Women's Olympic basketball team, and he didn't hold back!

Miller went on Dan Patrick’s radio show in early June 2024 to state that Caitlin Clark is not deserving of a spot on the U.S. women’s basketball team. "She’s not one of the 12 best," he said.

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Miller went on to speak about the growing he had to do as an NBA player. In addition to not making the Olympic team, Miller believed that Clark will grow from this experience, and in her rookie season in the WNBA.

Yahoo Sports quoted Miller as saying, "Her best defense will be the school of hard knocks. All the times that you’ve seen her get stripped and knocked down. That’s how her mind and body will get strong."

Miller didn’t allude to this specifically in his interview, but WNBA teams may have provided the blueprint for how other countries in the Olympics could have limited Clark’s effectiveness.

Miller even went as far as to say that Clark should be willing to send a message with a physical response of her own. Sports Illustrated quoted him as saying, "What I would love Caitlin to do is get up one time and then slap someone."

Spinning the argument the other way around, Miller said on the Dan Patrick show, "Who are you going to take off? Looking at this roster it’s arguably one of the best teams they’ve had… she’s just not one of the top 12 players right now."

The following players represented the United States in the 2024 Paris Game:  Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Cooper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Brianna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.

Miller doesn’t think Clark is being treated unfairly when it comes to how other WNBA players are guarding her. He said in an appearance on Mark Jackson’s podcast, "And what did you expect was going to happen? You’re coming from college, what did she expect was going to happen? You’re playing against grown women."

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There’s no doubt that Miller and Clark will be linked in Indiana basketball history. Both are well-regarded sharpshooters, and Miller had to learn how to deal with physicality as a slender player in the NBA, just as Clark is doing now in the WNBA. Miller spent his entire NBA career with the Indiana Pacers.

Even though some might regard Miller’s comments as critical or harsh, the NBA Hall of Famer has largely been complementary of Caitlin Clark’s game. This makes sense because Miller played with a similar style.

In May 2024, Miller was quoted by Marca’s website as saying that Caitlin Clark is a better shooter than Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. "I’ve been doing my homework, so I might go with Caitlin, I might go with Caitlin right now."

Miller also said on the Dan Patrick show that he thinks Clark is receiving way too much grief so early in her career. "Give this young woman a break, please," he said.

According to USA Today, the spotlight that Clark is under is a main reason why she wasn’t picked for the Olympic team. If Clark sat on the bench for the duration of the Olympics, the level of scrutiny and pressure to put her in the game might have caused a distraction.

Clark told the Indianapolis Star’s website, "They called me and let me know before everything came out, which was really respectful of them." However, she also reportedly told Indiana Fever coaches and teammates that the decision "woke a monster," and that she was as determined as ever to reach her WNBA potential.

Looking back on what became an all-time great rookie season, it's worth asking, with the benefit of hindsight, should Caitlin Clark have made the Olympic team? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!

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