Even the staunchest Payton Pritchard supporters (me) most likely couldn’t have predicted his speedy ascension this season. PP went from a enjoyable little bench participant — averaging 5.6 and 9.6 factors per recreation within the earlier two seasons, respectively — to scoring 14.3 ppg and profitable sixth Man of the 12 months in 2025.
With extra offensive duty and quantity, gamers typically wrestle efficiency-wise –- however not Pritchard. Regardless of elevating his discipline objective makes an attempt from 7.7 to 10.8 per recreation from final yr, his discipline objective proportion improved from 46.8% to 47.2%. And on the three-point line, Payton elevated his makes an attempt from 4.7 to 7.8 per recreation whereas in some way additionally bettering his accuracy from an already good 38.5% to an elite 40.7%.
In brief, he grew to become one of many NBA’s most constant shooters and stamped himself as an elite microwave scorer off the bench, one thing tough to do on such a well-balanced and deep crew.
Listed here are back-to-back performs — in a pivotal second, nonetheless — of Pritchard transferring with out the ball and hitting robust threes off the catch. He has the power to mess around different nice gamers due to his off-ball motion and taking pictures abliity, and he’s a wonderful flooring spacer who doesn’t have to be completely on-balanced to shoot. Oh, and he typically spots up a number of toes behind the road, which creates much more house for his teammates to drive.
Pritchard additionally has the power to shoot it off the dribble, although. Right here he’s creating house in opposition to the Defensive Participant of the 12 months along with his patented step-back transfer; even at his dimension, he’s fast sufficient and has a compact sufficient shot launch to get photographs off over taller defenders. He generally is a official go-to scorer in end-of-shot-clock conditions.
Pritchard doesn’t simply shoot threes. His footwork within the paint is beautiful and he does such an excellent job utilizing his physique to throw defenders off and create a gap to shoot layups on the rim. This was a transparent enchancment in his recreation this yr; whether or not or not it’s due to elevated confidence or alternative, PP confirmed what he can do when he’s allowed to assault the ring in isolation.
Scoring isn’t the one space the place Pritchard improved this yr, although. The 6-foot-1 guard (and that’s most likely beneficiant) went from an often-attacked defensive “legal responsibility” in earlier seasons to a bulldog defensive participant who modifications the character of the sport as quickly as he enters it with aggressive, hounding protection for 94 toes. At instances, Pritchard even guarded the opposing crew’s greatest participant and held his personal on that finish, showcasing an unbelievable stage of struggle and depth.
In isolation protection, Pritchard defended 55 possessions this season and held the offensive participant to 0.80 factors per possession on these performs. This could be the most effective defensive score in the whole NBA if it held up for a complete recreation. Not solely ought to he not be attacked, he ought to truly most likely be prevented on that finish. Absolute pest.
The offensive boards additionally grew to become a key element of Pritchard’s success this season. Sure, 6-foot-1, 195-pound Payton Pritchard excelled as an offensive rebounder. He had 102 offensive rebounds this season, good for ninth amongst all guards (and considerably higher than every other guard his dimension). PP’s effort, conditioning and pace are the spine of his offensive rebounding prowess, however he’s additionally phenomenal at studying the ball off the rim and discovering a technique to get his arms on it.
Not solely does Pritchard put himself in wonderful rebounding place, however he’s robust sufficient to carry the defender off and even end as soon as he secures the board. If it occurred solely a pair instances, it may very well be thought of a fluke. However Pritchard has confirmed to be a constant pressure and an absolute canine on the offensive boards.
Subsequent yr
Consider it or not, Pritchard truly has much more room to develop subsequent season. With out Jayson Tatum within the lineup (and probably others, pending this summer season), PP will possible have an elevated offensive position. And the stats from this season would counsel that he’s greater than prepared for it.
On 170 Payton Pritchard-led decide and roll ball handler possessions this season, the Celtics scored 1.11 factors per possession. He was within the 94.sixth percentile in decide and roll ball dealing with possessions. He understands the best way to make reads in these conditions and is a pure level guard at his core. Certain, he may be nice off the ball, however elevated offensive alternatives subsequent season may unlock the true potential of Pritchard.
