Former Iowa HC Lisa Bluder reveals which NBA legend inspired her approach to help Fever star Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark’s arrival in the WNBA was only a matter of time, and her journey through college basketball was positively guided by then-Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Lisa Bluder. Developing the player who is now the Indiana Fever’s rising star wasn’t easy, but Bluder found inspiration in an NBA legend to use as a reference throughout the process.

The level of exposure Clark had to deal with in the years leading up to her jump to the pros was anything but typical, given the relevance and impact of her game. In a short period of time, she became one of the most sought-after figures — not only by the media, but also by major brands.

That’s why her coach at the time, a self-proclaimed fan of reading, revealed that she leaned heavily on the dynamic between Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson — who had to navigate a similar situation during their time with the Chicago Bulls.

During a recent interview published on The Athletic, Bluder shared a message she gave to Clark, in which she advised her to follow the example set by His Airness himself — referring specifically to how Jordan handled the media and off-court commitments throughout his career. “Caitlin,” she said, “you have to do the brunt of this. So did Michael. The great ones do.”

Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls talks to the reporters during the Chicago Bulls Parade conference after winning the NBA Championships.

Even so, she warned her about the reality of the situation: “It’s fun to do once in a while,” Bluder also added, “but if you have to do it every single day and once or twice a day, it gets old and that’s hard.”

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Learning from the Phil Jackson model

Lisa Bluder has proclaimed herself a fan of reading, often finding inspiration in books to guide her teams throughout her career. In Phil Jackson’s book Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior, she found the motivation to lead her years with the Hawkeyes, especially during her time with Clark.

“The things that Michael Jordan had, that Phil had to help Michael with, were some of the same things that I feel like I had to help Caitlin with,” the experienced head coach said.

Clearly, things have gone well for both Bluder and Clark, who is now firmly established in the WNBA as one of the league’s top players. Many believe her potential still has no limits.