Payton Pritchard is now an NBA champion.
Drafted 26th overall by the Boston Celtics in 2020, Pritchard’s journey hasn’t been easy. During the 2022-23 season, he barely saw any playing time due to Malcolm Brogdon’s arrival. Frustrated, Pritchard expressed his desire for more minutes on the “Point Forward” podcast in January 2023.
“We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role,” he said. “I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that.”
Despite his frustration, he stayed with the Celtics for the rest of the season. Then things changed dramatically. Marcus Smart was traded as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal and Brogdon left too, making room for Jrue Holiday and giving Pritchard a chance to shine.
Big Changes and New Opportunities:
With Smart and Brogdon gone, Pritchard found himself playing in all 82 regular-season games. He averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting impressively from both two-point range (59.3%) and three-point range (38.5%). In the playoffs, he played every game too, clocking in an average of 18.2 minutes per game.
Fans probably think this turnaround is amazing!
At the start of this new season, Pritchard signed a four-year $30 million contract extension.
On Monday, Boston clinched its 18th championship title with Pritchard playing a crucial role—just months after he wanted out! His name is now etched in history forever.
Pritchard believed in himself last summer when he saw an opening in the rotation and seized it. Now he’s poised to help Boston chase another title next season and beyond—a huge payoff for his persistence through tough times.
What do you think about Pritchard’s journey?
