Now in his fifth season with the Boston Celtics, guard Payton Pritchard has turned into an important part of the team’s success. After a career year last year and playing a big role in the Celtics’ championship run, the Oregon native is putting together an even better campaign.With less than a month left in the season, it seems that the Sixth Man of the Year award is Pritchard’s to lose. If he can win the award, he will be the first Celtic to do so since Malcolm Brogdon in 2023.
Though Pritchard has been great for the Celtics, he is also making league history, including achieving a milestone against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday that the NBA has never seen before.
Since entering the NBA, Pritchard has made a name for himself as a microwave off the bench, largely because of his limitless range and incredible three-point ability. This is now set in NBA history as Pritchard hit his 219th three-point field goal off the bench this season on Saturday, becoming the first player to do so.
The Celtics guard has established himself as one of the best bench players in the NBA and is going to be important for the team from here on out as they look to repeat as champions.
This season, Pritchard is averaging 14 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 59 games all off the bench. Furthermore, he is shooting 46.8% from the field and 41.5% from beyond the arc. While not on the same level of importance as players like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, Pritchard is still an essential part of the Celtics’ roster.
