Doc Rivers proclaims Caitlin Clark as basketball's biggest superstar: "That's what a superstar does"
Doc Rivers proclaims Caitlin Clark as basketball's biggest superstar: "That's what a superstar does" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
In the history of basketball, there has always been a dominant male figure who has been the face of the sport, but that might be changing with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, whose superstardom is growing by the day.
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Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell ruled the 1960s, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird were the best in the '80s, Michael Jordan in the '90s, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James for nearly the past two decades. But according to Doc Rivers, modern-day fans might be experiencing a never-before-seen left.
That shift comes in the form of Clark, whose influence both on and off the court is turning heads and redefining superstardom. Even more boldly, as Rivers puts it, this could be the making of the biggest superstar in basketball right now.
Rivers on Clark's biggest asset
After leading the Indiana Fever to the playoffs last season, Clark took the league by storm, earning the Rookie of the Year award and a place in the All-WNBA First Team. Her stat line was already impressive, as she averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game.
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That clearly wasn't enough for Clark as she already surpassed her production through six games in the new campaign, averaging 21.3 points, 8.7 assists and 1.0 block per game, all while improving her efficiency to 44.7 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three-point range.
For Rivers, that's the true mark of a superstar. She not only elevates her own game but also improves the production of her teammates like Lexie Hull and seamlessly integrates newcomers like Aari McDonald and Natasha Howard into the team.
If you ask Doc, Clark isn't just improving her own game but changing the basketball culture with sold-out arenas and a massive spike in viewership. Put simply, forcing fans, who once neglected women's basketball, to want them to never miss out on Clark's action.
"Caitlin Clark is Pistol Pete. It's funny, in college, everyone was mesmerized by her shooting and I'm like it's the least of her game, it's her passing," Rivers said on the "Bill Simmons podcast."
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"It's a great example of what we talked about with Haliburton. When you watch Caitlin Clark's team play, they run the floor. You know why? They know they're gonna get the ball. They make cuts because they know they're gonna get the ball and that's what a superstar does. She may be the biggest superstar in basketball right now," Rivers gave her kudos.
Related: "I can't get so close to it, too, because of my competitive nature" - Michael Jordan on why he can't get himself to be a fan of any one player in the NBA
Clark's superstardom is undeniable
Even the numbers wholeheartedly support Rivers' bold proclamation of Clark being the biggest superstar in basketball. At the time of her recent quad injury, the Fever's National TV viewership had dropped to a staggering 53 percent. Furthermore, the overall WNBA broadcasts have seen a dip of 55 percent since her injury.
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Safe to say that this kind of audience drop-off is unheard of in women's professional sports — or any sport, really — where the presence of a single player dictates the viewership of an entire league. As the veteran NBA head coach boldly suggests, Caitlin might not just be building her legacy. She is reshaping the landscape of basketball itself.
Related: "She is a gift from God for the WNBA" - Peja Stojakovic believes WNBA players owe Caitlin Clark for the league's growth
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
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