On a night where Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns handed the Golden State Warriors their fourth straight loss, it wasn’t just the game that had everyone talking. There was a special guest in the arena—Caitlin Clark, who showed up, casually sitting courtside with her brothers. Just when fans were getting over it, a throwback picture of CC from years ago with Durant resurfaced.

It is a blurry photo featuring 16-year-old Caitlin in her high school jersey with former teammates, including Kylie Feuerbach next to Durant. Years have passed since then. Clark has grown, transitioned to the pros, and even has the most stellar rookie season in the W history behind her. 

People couldn’t get enough of it, especially considering the wild coincidence that the WNBA star was attending the game where Durant was playing a starring role around the same time the snap went viral. Clark, who was in Arizona the day before the game to support her boyfriend during a Butler game, decided to pop in without any prior events on her calendar. 

And she must be glad as what went down on the court was a must-watch. Durant and the Suns finished strong to win 113-105. The Warriors were trailing 66-49 at halftime, and while Stephen Curry tried his best with a 23-point performance, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Suns. Phoenix’s #35, Kevin Durant, came through with a clutch three-pointer in the final minutes, sealing the win. And while the game was entertaining in itself, the buzz around Caitlin Clark’s surprise appearance couldn’t be ignored. Because Durant and Clark have hit the headlines together quite a few times. 

The NBA star’s own brand, founded through his media company Boardroom, has compared Caitlin to Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry. Back when she was in college, Ian Stonebrook, who writes for Boardroom, even said Caitlin has the potential to become a hybrid of both.

Stonebrook went as far as saying Caitlin could be to the Midwest what Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant were to their respective regions. “Boys and girls too young to see Steph’s ascent or Kobe’s competitiveness have a hybrid hero in Caitlin,” he said. Additionally, this whole Kevin Durant connection takes a twist when you think about Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub. 

Caitlin Clark’s olympic snub, Kevin Durant weighs in

Many were shocked when the 2024 ROTY, fresh off her rookie WNBA season, didn’t make Team USA’s roster. It was an omission that left many fans scratching their heads. However, Coach Mike Krzyzewski compared it to a situation Durant faced early in his career—when he nearly made the 2008 Olympic team but was left off. 

Coach K recalled how KD’s time eventually came, and he became an Olympic gold medalist. “I know some people are angry about her not being on the Olympic team. But certainly she’ll be long there and it’s kind of like in 2008. Kevin Durant was on our select team and we almost picked him for the Redeem Team,” he said.

In fact, Durant himself weighed in on the situation. He pointed out that while Caitlin has shown massive potential, the lack of experience could be why she didn’t make the cut. “There are better candidates out there right now,” he said.

Despite that, Durant recognizes her talent, adding, “I think she’s going to definitely be on one of these teams going forward.” Although KD’s opinion sparked mixed opinions, we can’t deny that taking the proper steps at the right time is important. The 23-year-old’s journey has just begun, and there’s no doubt she’s a name that will be in the spotlight for years to come.