LSU basketball coach Kim Mulkey doesn’t want to spend much time comparing Caitlin Clark and Pete Maravich.
The Iowa superstar is officially the highest scoring player in D1 basketball history after breaking Pete Maravich’s record this past weekend. She now sits at 3,685 career points compared to Maravich’s 3,667 scored while he was at LSU.
However, it’s not really a fair comparison. Pistol Pete played without a three point line and only three years of stats counted during his career with the Tigers.
Mulkey that while Clark is an absurd talent, it’s not really a straight comparison to make.
Caitlin Clark broke the D1 NCAA all-time scoring record during a win over Ohio State. (Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports)
Kim Mulkey reacts to Caitlin Clark breaking Pete Maravich’s scoring record.
“I don’t look at comparing apples to oranges. What [Caitlin] Clark has done is unbelievable and her name will be right up there at the top. But he played over here with no three-point line, three years and I don’t think we need to make too much of ‘oh she passed him’ because he’s a man. She’s who she is and that’s awesome, and her lord knows when I played against her I was like are you kidding me? What a generational talent,” the LSU coach said Sunday after beating Kentucky when reacting to the news, according to On3.
Mulkey also hyped up who Maravich was as a player by telling the media, “Pete Maravich could do things with the basketball that I had never seen done in my life. Who can go behind your back, between your legs, and he could just see things ahead of his time?”
Caitlin Clark is an unbelievable basketball player. (Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports)
People might want to read into Kim Mulkey’s comments given LSU’s history with Clark after the women’s NCAA Tournament last season, but her comments are pretty fair.
Mulkey is correct that it’s not a straight comparison. It really is apples to oranges, and that’s not taking anything away from Caitlin Clark. She’s an incredible basketball player, and she has transcended women’s basketball.
No women’s college basketball player has ever moved the needle like she does. However, Pistol Pete scored 3,667 career points in three seasons with no three point line. His career average during his time at LSU was 44.2 points per game in the late 1960s. Averaging more than 44 points a game without a three point line is absolutely insane.
LSU basketball coach Kim Mulkey doesn’t want to spend much time comparing Caitlin Clark and Pete Maravich. She reacted to the Iowa star breaking the latter’s scoring record. (Credit: USA Today Sports Network Compilation)
It’s possible to acknowledge Clark’s amazing talent and greatness while also acknowledging her record isn’t a 1v1 comparison to Pistol Pete. Agree? Disagree? Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
