Payton Pritchard isn’t the first name that comes up when you think of elite scorers in the NBA-but maybe it should be.
With Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury, the Boston Celtics have had to shuffle their offensive deck. And stepping up in a big way has been their 6-foot-1 guard, Payton Pritchard. Since entering the league in 2020, Pritchard has steadily developed into a reliable contributor, but this season, he’s taken things to another level-especially in a larger role with the defending champs.
Here’s something that jumps off the stat sheet: Pritchard currently leads the league in games with 25 or more points without attempting a single free throw. That’s not just a quirky stat-it’s a window into the kind of scorer he’s become.
In today’s NBA, it’s common to see high-scoring nights padded by trips to the line. Drawing fouls, manipulating defenders, and living at the charity stripe are all part of the modern scoring toolkit.
But what Pritchard is doing? That’s pure shot-making.
No whistles. No freebies.
Just buckets.
When a player drops 25+ without a single free throw attempt, it means they’re earning every point the hard way-through movement, touch, and often, contact that goes uncalled. It speaks to a level of offensive craft and toughness that doesn’t always show up in the highlight reels. For Pritchard, it’s become a signature.
And the numbers back it up. He’s averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game, shooting 45.9% from the field and 35.3% from deep. Those are rock-solid contributions, especially for a player who’s often seen as the third or even fourth option when the Celtics are fully healthy.
But with Tatum out, Pritchard hasn’t just filled a gap-he’s helped stabilize Boston’s offense. His ability to create off the dribble, knock down shots from the perimeter, and keep the ball moving has been essential to the Celtics staying on track in a tightly contested Eastern Conference.
What makes his performance even more impressive is the context. He’s not a volume scorer who dominates the ball.
He’s not hunting fouls or relying on isolation sets. He’s fitting into the flow of the offense and still finding ways to be efficient and impactful.
That’s the kind of player every contender needs-someone who can step up when called upon, without disrupting the system.
As the Celtics look to make another deep playoff run, Pritchard’s role could be a swing factor. If he continues to bring this level of production and poise, especially in the absence of their superstar, Boston’s chances of returning to the Finals look a whole lot better.
Quietly, Payton Pritchard is putting together a season worth noticing. It might not come with All-Star buzz or nightly headlines, but make no mistake-he’s been one of the most valuable third scoring options in the league this year.