Payton Pritchard has spent his Celtics career climbing one step at a time, and now the ladder is set up for a bigger jump than ever. He’s improved every season in Boston, turned himself into one of the league’s most overlooked guards over the last two years, and capped that rise by winning Sixth Man of the Year in 2025 before posting the best season of his career last year.
The selling point has always been the same: Pritchard may not look like a classic big-bodied NBA guard, but he plays like one. He uses his frame well, gets where he wants on the floor, and that helps him score with real efficiency.
Last season, that growth showed up in the numbers. Pritchard put up 17 points, four rebounds, and five assists per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 38 percent from deep. His self-creation took a noticeable step forward, he became more willing to attack the rim, and he looked far more comfortable running the offense as a playmaker.
He also had nights that reminded everyone how dangerous he can be when the shot is falling. One of the biggest came in November against the Cleveland Cavaliers, when he poured in 42 points.
The consistency mattered too. Through the season, he only dipped below 37 percent from three in a month twice, and one of those months was October, when he played just six games because it was the first month of the NBA year.
That kind of production is why this season feels like a launch point. Jaylen Brown is now in Philadelphia, which opens up a huge chunk of usage. Jayson Tatum will take most of that load, but he’s going to need help, and Pritchard is positioned to be a major part of it.
He’s set to handle the biggest role of his career, returning as the full-time starting point guard like he was last season, only now with even more responsibility as a primary creator next to Tatum. When Tatum sits, the offense is going to run through Pritchard.
The Eastern Conference is packed, but Boston still believes it can fight in that race. Tatum is another year removed from his achilles injury, the supporting cast has been strengthened, and Pritchard is staring at the kind of opportunity that could push him into All-Star territory for the first time.
If he keeps building the way he has every season, the Celtics may have another level to unlock right in front of them.
In Other News...
Celtics Face A Bigger Paul George Decision Than Fans Realize
Even with age, injury history and a hefty contract attached, Paul George still has enough standing around the league that teams have not written him off as a difference-maker. An NBA executive told Sean Deveney that George continues to carry considerable value, which helps explain why his arrival in Boston has remained a topic of real interest rather than a passing roster note.
George has also sounded upbeat about landing with the Celtics and has made clear he would like to stick around. The larger question is how Boston sees him as the season unfolds, because the teams long-term plan for him is still unsettled and the answer will say a lot about where this roster is headed next. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Usage Could Reveal A Lot About Bostons Confidence
The Celtics handling of Paul George is already shaping up as one of the more interesting early questions around their rotation. A minutes restriction would not be unusual for a veteran with mileage, and Boston has history here, having managed Al Horford carefully in his later seasons with the team. For now, though, there is no official indication that George is headed for that kind of limited workload, and the tone from media day suggested he may be available whenever he is healthy.
That leaves the real intrigue in how Boston chooses to use him once the games start counting. The Celtics seem confident George can handle significant minutes this season, which says plenty about how they view his body and his role in the rotation. Even so, the exact plan has not been confirmed, and the difference between a full-go approach and a more cautious one could tell a lot about just how aggressively Boston wants to chase the regular season with its veteran core. [Read more 🡒]
Tacko Fall Hit With Brutal Setback At The Worst Time
Tacko Fall has hit a rough patch at exactly the wrong moment, suffering a left hip strain during 76ers training camp as he tries to keep his NBA opportunity alive. Fall is in the mix for a two-way contract spot while on an Exhibit 10 deal, a setup that already leaves little margin for error in a crowded camp environment.
The injury now puts him on a short-term pause, with the team set to reevaluate him in two weeks. If Philadelphia moves on and he is waived, Fall would still have a path to bonus money by landing with the 76ers G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, but first he has to get back on the floor and show he can stay in the fight. [Read more 🡒]