Sharp shooting: NBA Hall of Famer doesn’t believe Caitlin Clark earned Olympic nod

NBA Hall of Famer and Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller shared his opinion about Caitlin Clark and the United States women’s basketball team recently. His opinion supporting USA Basketball’s decision might have surprised many fans of the popular WNBA rookie.

Reggie Miller went on Dan Patrick’s radio show in early June 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.

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 believes that Clark will grow from this experience, and her rookie season in the WNBA.

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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 limit 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.”

In terms of who will represent the United States in women’s basketball in the Paris 2024 Olympics, the list is as follows: 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 in the last couple of months 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, 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 Indianaolpis 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.

Should Caitlin Clark have made the Olympic team? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment!

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