I won the NBA championship twice but I’ve never seen anyone in the league do this better than Caitlin Clark
Caitlin Clark is used to praise but some of the highest yet has found it’s way to her. Two-time NBA championship winning coach Brendan Suhr believes Clark has one specific trait that sets her apart from everyone – including the Hall of Fame superstar he coached. Caitlin Clark is a WNBA superstar Suhr served as a longtime NBA assistant coach was part of the Detroit Pistons that won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. Now 73, he has also served as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors in a coaching career that spanned 40-years. Along with his two NBA titles, Suhr also boasts a CBA Eastern Division title in 1996 as a head coach along with winning the CBA Coach of the Year award in the same year. Such longevity in the league and in the NCAA means Suhr has come across the very best NBA talent across the different eras the league has gone through, making his Clark claim even bolder. Suhr has coached the likes of Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, when he was at the Pistons, but believes that Clark has two attributes that set her apart. Speaking on his podcast, Coaching U, Suhr spoke to Stephanie White who has taken over as Clark’s head coach at the Indiana Fever. “I’ve never seen any NBA player that can throw the ball ahead on the break better than her, anyone. I had Isiah [Thomas] – I had a Hall of Fame point guard, never anyone better than her,” Suhr said. “I also think, that like a lot of my great point guards, Hall of Famers, she could play off the ball so well because she knows how to move without the ball – and it wouldn’t tire her out. “We used to take Isiah off the ball sometimes if he was getting trapped on every pick and roll and play him off, and all of a sudden, he was terrific because defenders aren’t used to running off screens. “And I just think she’s so, so good – and [Kelsey] Mitchell, I had no idea how great a scorer she was. As Pat McAfee would say, she’s a dog – she is so freaking tough and good, and I was happy [Aliyah] Boston came into her own this year. But I’m excited about your squad, and I really think you’re going to be fun to watch.” View Tweet: https://t.co/WtgLuIIYhb Such praise from an experienced coach is something that Clark has been getting used to over the last few years, the 22-year-old is not new to comparisons with her male peers over in the NBA. Clark has enjoyed a whirlwind rise which has seen her rocket from a NCAA collegiate player in Iowa to becoming the Time Magazine’s ‘s Athlete of the Year – carrying the Hawkeyes to the final four twice and becoming the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The 22-year-old joins the likes of LeBron James, Lionel Messi and Simone Biles as previous winners of the award, signalling the stardom the Fever guard has reached. Clark broke multiple divisional records after being selected as the first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft as she made the All-Rookie team, All-WNBA First Team and WNBA All-Star team. Clark will be led by a new coach this year after the Fever fired coach Christie Sides, White will take charge of the team and her statement signalled her excitement. “I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal moment in this franchise’s history,” White said in her announcement. White and Clark’s first game back of the 2025 WNBA season will be against fellow star Angel Reese on May 17.
Caitlin Clark is used to praise but some of the highest yet has found it’s way to her.
Two-time NBA championship winning coach Brendan Suhr believes Clark has one specific trait that sets her apart from everyone – including the Hall of Fame superstar he coached.
Suhr served as a longtime NBA assistant coach was part of the Detroit Pistons that won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990.
Now 73, he has also served as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and the Toronto Raptors in a coaching career that spanned 40-years.
Along with his two NBA titles, Suhr also boasts a CBA Eastern Division title in 1996 as a head coach along with winning the CBA Coach of the Year award in the same year.
Such longevity in the league and in the NCAA means Suhr has come across the very best NBA talent across the different eras the league has gone through, making his Clark claim even bolder.
Suhr has coached the likes of Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, when he was at the Pistons, but believes that Clark has two attributes that set her apart.
Speaking on his podcast, Coaching U, Suhr spoke to Stephanie White who has taken over as Clark’s head coach at the Indiana Fever.
“I’ve never seen any NBA player that can throw the ball ahead on the break better than her, anyone. I had Isiah [Thomas] – I had a Hall of Fame point guard, never anyone better than her,” Suhr said.
“I also think, that like a lot of my great point guards, Hall of Famers, she could play off the ball so well because she knows how to move without the ball – and it wouldn’t tire her out.
“We used to take Isiah off the ball sometimes if he was getting trapped on every pick and roll and play him off, and all of a sudden, he was terrific because defenders aren’t used to running off screens.
“And I just think she’s so, so good – and [Kelsey] Mitchell, I had no idea how great a scorer she was. As Pat McAfee would say, she’s a dog – she is so freaking tough and good, and I was happy [Aliyah] Boston came into her own this year. But I’m excited about your squad, and I really think you’re going to be fun to watch.”
Such praise from an experienced coach is something that Clark has been getting used to over the last few years, the 22-year-old is not new to comparisons with her male peers over in the NBA.
Clark has enjoyed a whirlwind rise which has seen her rocket from a NCAA collegiate player in Iowa to becoming the Time Magazine’s ‘s Athlete of the Year – carrying the Hawkeyes to the final four twice and becoming the first overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The 22-year-old joins the likes of LeBron James, Lionel Messi and Simone Biles as previous winners of the award, signalling the stardom the Fever guard has reached.
Clark broke multiple divisional records after being selected as the first overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft as she made the All-Rookie team, All-WNBA First Team and WNBA All-Star team.
Clark will be led by a new coach this year after the Fever fired coach Christie Sides, White will take charge of the team and her statement signalled her excitement.
“I am incredibly proud and honored to return home to Indiana and lead the Fever during such a pivotal moment in this franchise’s history,” White said in her announcement.
White and Clark’s first game back of the 2025 WNBA season will be against fellow star Angel Reese on May 17.
