Ever since Caitlin Clark joined NBC’s broadcasting panel, she has been compared to several NBA stars. But this latest take from an NBA analyst caught many people off guard.

“The single most famous basketball player under the age of 35 years old is Caitlin Clark.... Anthony Edwards, Luka, Jokic, Giannis — those guys have not ascended to that level. And that is the major issue facing the league. They don’t right now have a solve to it, and they’re hoping Wemby will solve it.”

Before landing with the LA Lakers in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Dončić was already a bona fide superstar. Many even believed he could become the face of the league once LeBron James retires.

At the same time, Clark is already doing that in the WNBA. She's caused the ratings to skyrocket, brought more ticket and merchandise sales to the sport. And that growth from 2024 carried over into 2025. It's part of the reason WNBA players are also fighting for better contracts. But that's not all.

She also shattered NCAA records that once seemed untouchable. She became the first Division I player in history to record 3,000 points and 1,000 assists in a career. She has delivered rare statistical performances, including high-assist games and triple-doubles that even predictive models struggle to measure. So her popularity is not random. It is earned.

And While Caitlin Clark Can Match NBA Stars, There's One Thing She Can't Do

On the latest episode of the Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James revealed that as part of his fitness journey, he chose to cut out two of his favorite indulgences: wine and chocolate chip cookies.

And when she saw the clip, Caitlin Clark commented on the post, saying: "I'd rather retire than do this. This is why he's him."

That could be one of the reasons fans have connected with Clark so much: relatability. She often has similar moments on social media, showing an honest side of her.

Could that be how the next generation of NBA stars connect with fans?

Written by

Yashika Dutta

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar