Walter Clayton reacts to Steph Curry comparisons growing through NCAA Tournament

It’s been a fantastic season for the Florida Gators. Now, amid a deep NCAA Tournament run, basketball fans across the country are becoming fully aware of who Walter Clayton is. There are even those who have begun to compare him to Steph Curry.

Clayton was phenomenal again in the Elite Eight, scoring 30 points in the win over Texas Tech. With that, the Gators danced into the Final Four and Clayton found himself addressing those comparisons to one of the best players in modern NBA history.

“I mean, I don’t know,” Walter Clayton said. “That’s arguably the greatest point guard in the history of basketball. I’ve got a ways to go. I wouldn’t quite compare myself yet. But just thankful for the recognition.”

Steph Curry himself made a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament. A star at mid-major Davidson, Curry, had two shots at the NCAA Tournament. As a freshman, he scored 30 points in a first round loss. As a sophomore, he led Davidson to its first NCAA Tournament win since 1969. That year, Davidson made the Elite Eight and Curry scored, at least 30 points in his first four career NCAA Tournament games.

Similarly, Walter Clayton is a point guard who has had a phenomenal NCAA Tournament following an excellent regular season. With the Gators now in the Final Four, all eyes are on Clayton. He’s averaging 22.5 points per game to this point in the NCAA Tournament and has made 14 three-point shots. Given that three-point shooting is a big part of Curry’s reputation, it’s not surprising even teammates like Thomas Haugh agree with the comparison.

“I think he is,” Haugh said to laughter. “I don’t know, man, yeah, like he said, he’s the greatest point guard of all time.”

Next up for Florida is the Final Four. There, the Gators are still waiting to find out who their next opponent is going to be, either Auburn or Michigan State.

Jay Williams compares Walter Clayton Jr. to Steph Curry after leading Florida to Final Four

The comparisons between Walter Clayton and Steph Curry leading up to the Final Four are from coming from more places than just fans. Even ESPN analyst Jay Williams sees the comparison.

“Walter Clayton Jr., like, how many times do we need to watch a game where you’re like, ‘What are you doing? Yes, that’s what you’re doing.’ And I’m not saying that he is. I’m not saying that his game will translate to the NBA the way this player’s game has, because this player is the most prolific shooter in the history of the game and maybe the greatest point guard in history of the game, but it reminds you of Steph Curry,” Williams said.

“With the way he plays, he takes shots off the hip where either they’re contested or he gets the ball on the gap, pulls it back out, takes a three, you’re like, ‘What are you doing?’ He makes a shot. He is the reason for the 30-point game, why they are in the Final Four.”