The Celtics appear set to keep Payton Pritchard in his familiar sixth-man spot, even though there’s a strong case for giving him a bigger one.
Pritchard has already shown he can handle a starting job. In the one stretch where he was used that way consistently - 50 starts with Boston in 2025-26 while Jayson Tatum was out - he put up 16.9 points, 5.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 45.6/34.8/86.7%. That kind of production is exactly why there’s an argument for putting more responsibility on him, especially with the Celtics looking for ways to ease the burden on Tatum, Paul George and Derrick White.
Still, Joe Mazzulla seems to be leaning in another direction. Jordan Walsh is the player getting the starting nod, and while that feels like the wrong move to some, it’s not hard to see the appeal. Walsh brings defense and can make an impact without needing the ball, which gives Boston a different kind of value in the lineup.
That said, Pritchard has been one of the Celtics’ most reliable weapons off the bench for a long time. He’s the kind of player who can catch fire fast, swing a game in a hurry and change the tone of a second unit. He played a major role in Boston’s 2024 title run and then followed it up by winning Sixth Man of the Year the next season.
There’s also the simple fact that nobody else on Boston’s bench brings quite what Pritchard does. His game is built around having the ball, creating offense and making things happen.
That makes him a natural fit as a reserve, and it explains why Mazzulla may want to keep using him there. The Celtics have also had success with that setup, and there isn’t an obvious like-for-like replacement waiting to take over his bench role, even if Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez can help fill some of that production.
But Boston’s season still has plenty riding on Pritchard’s offense. With Jaylen Brown out, shot creation matters even more, and Pritchard is one of the clearest answers on the roster.
If the Celtics want him to keep climbing, the easiest way to do it is to give him more time on the floor. Right now, that doesn’t seem to be the plan.
Even if he stays in the sixth-man lane, there should still be chances for him to crack the starting five when the schedule or injuries demand it. George isn’t playing 82 games.
Tatum and White likely won’t either. Those are the moments when Pritchard should slide into the lineup.
Devin Carter could also factor in when he returns, and there’s reason to believe he can make an impact too. But for now, Pritchard remains the one Celtics guard who can bridge both worlds: the elite bench scorer and the spot starter who can keep things moving. However Boston chooses to use him, he’s still a big part of what the team does well.
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Jayson Tatum Is Carrying The Celtics In A Way Fans Notice
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There was more to it than just the final shot, too. Tatum controlled the game with the kind of all-around command that keeps showing up for Boston, pairing scoring with playmaking while avoiding mistakes, and in the process reaching a rare Celtics milestone in the process. For a team already leaning on him, it was another night where the load felt heavy but manageable, even if the larger significance of the moment is still settling in. [Read more 🡒]