Backup Guard Shines Amid Porzingis’ Absence, Aiming for Career Year in Celtics’ Championship Push
The Boston Celtics are off to a blazing 4-1 start to the 2024-25 NBA season, and one name is lighting up the stat sheet and energizing fans: Payton Pritchard. As the Celtics chase a back-to-back championship, Pritchard has emerged as a surprise catalyst off the bench, averaging a stellar 16.2 points per game over the first five contests. With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined from ankle surgery, Pritchard has seized the opportunity, delivering clutch shooting and proving he deserves more minutes.
Selected 26th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 26-year-old guard has spent five seasons with Boston, making a name for himself as a deadly three-point shooter. For his career, Pritchard boasts an impressive 39.8% from deep, but this season he’s taken it up a notch, sinking 46.9% of his shots from beyond the arc. His impact is undeniable, scoring 15+ points in four of his last five games and averaging 19.5 points over his last four outings, aside from a modest season opener.
Last year, Pritchard played in all 82 games and averaged a career-high 9.6 points in 22.3 minutes per game. Now, he’s taking that energy to new heights, outscoring two of Boston’s starters through the season’s opening games. Fans and analysts alike are buzzing about whether head coach Joe Mazzulla will continue expanding Pritchard’s role as the Celtics gear up for a clash against the Hornets on Friday.
In a tweet on October 29, Pritchard captured his mindset with the phrase, “Fear No Moment.” As the Celtics eye another title, it’s clear that Pritchard’s fearlessness and laser-focused shooting could be exactly what Boston needs to secure another banner in the rafters.
