Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard has grown in stature in recent years. Having established himself as a key rotation player for the Boston Celtics, Pritchard recently appeared on the “White Noise” podcast with teammate Derrick White to discuss how his high school experiences transformed him as a player.
Pritchard recounted his time playing 1-on-1 against former NBA player Steve Blake, who lived in his hometown of West Linn, Oregon.
“I was really young and not necessarily the best player. Maybe like skill-wise, I was always good,” Pritchard recalled. “He would pick me up every day that summer and play me 1-on-1. And that’s where I kind of developed the love for 1-on-1 so much.”
“I never won a game,” he emphasized. “But then, when I went from there, playing against him, and he was still in the league. [At] 15 years old, then playing against high schoolers, I was like, ‘Dang.’ I took a major jump. I become the guy. I won the state player of the year.”
The Celtics guard believed that Blake was invested in mentoring him because of his work ethic, although his overall skill set was also a major factor. He recalled that while fundamentals were part of their workouts, the former NBA player would have them play full-court 1-on-1 games, helping him nurture his floor craft.
It goes without saying that Blake’s influence played a huge role in helping Payton Pritchard develop into the player he is today. Having been an integral role player for the Celtics during their title run, the reigning 6MOY has established himself as a reliable member of the team’s rotation.
Could Payton Pritchard Be A Starter Next Season?
The 2025 offseason has been anything but smooth for the Boston Celtics. After Jayson Tatum suffered an injury during their postseason run, the Celtics faced additional challenges, as they were forced to part with key rotation pieces to reduce their luxury tax burden for the upcoming season.
Boston’s offseason was marked by trades to shed salaries, resulting in a significant drop-off in overall depth. On this note, Anfernee Simons‘ acquisition was still positive, as it could help the team maintain its production on offense. But as seen in the preseason opener, the Celtics could consider having Simons come off the bench. This could potentially open up a spot in the starting lineup for Payton Pritchard.
After winning the 6MOY award, Pritchard has proven himself as a capable role player, although primarily scoring-oriented. Last season, he averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 47.2% shooting from the field and 40.7% from three-point range.
A starting lineup featuring Payton Pritchard, alongside Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, could prove promising. Given Brown’s faith in the team and the potential for Tatum to make an early comeback, the Celtics could still be optimistic heading into the 2025-26 season.
