Boston Celtics: Could Payton Pritchard be the steal of the 2020 NBA Draft?

Payton Pritchard looks like he could be the steal of the 2020 NBA Draft thanks to his early contributions off the bench for the Boston Celtics.

It’s still very early in the 2020-21 season, but the early returns on Payton Pritchard, the 26th pick by the Boston Celtics in this past November’s draft, are already looking very promising.

Pritchard won both the Bob Cousy and Lute Olson Awards in his senior season at Oregon, was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year, and was a consensus First Team All-American after averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 41.5 percent from deep.

Despite all that, however, most of the reaction I saw on social media after the pick was fairly negative.

I know social media isn’t always a great representation of how a fanbase feels at large, but I personally saw enough hesitation and criticism about the pick to know Pritchard wasn’t exactly who Boston Celtics fans wanted with their second first-rounder.

Fans complained about the 6-2 guard being undersized, not flashy enough, and lacking elite athleticism.

Through the first three games of the season, Pritchard is proving to be a valuable asset off the bench for Boston, however.

Looking only at the box score, Pritchard’s numbers should catch your eye immediately.

He’s appeared in all three games for Boston, and he’s managed to score 23 points in 61 minutes of action while also picking up a few rebounds and dishing out a couple of assists.

The biggest areas Pritchard has made an impact is beyond the perimeter and on defense, though.

Pritchard brings a much-needed presence beyond the three-point line for the Boston Celtics. The team has struggled to be a highly effective three-point shooting team over the last couple of seasons, but Pritchard is already providing a spark there.

In his three games, the rookie has connected on five of his seven three-point attempts, including going a perfect 3-for-3 in Boston’s one-point loss to Indiana on Sunday night.

Not only that, but Pritchard has been tenacious and energetic on defense, getting at least one steal in all three games and totaling five steals in his 61 minutes on the court.

Pritchard’s impact goes beyond just the box score, though. Watching him in Boston’s first three games, I’ve been impressed with his poise, confidence, and his knack for making plays on defense that lead to good scoring opportunities on the other end.

For a Boston backcourt looking for help while Kemba Walker recovers, Pritchard seems like an answered prayer. He could prove to be the biggest steal of the 2020 draft, as well.

Again, we’re only three games into the season, and Pritchard’s minutes could take a big hit once Walker does come back into the lineup.

Still, right now, he’s out-performing all the players drafted around his position in this past draft class.

Guys like Tyrese Maxey, Zeke Nnaji, Leandro Bolmaro, RJ Hampton, and Immanuel Quickly were all taken before Pritchard, and Udoka Azubuike, Jaden McDaniels, Malachi Flynn, and Desmond Bane were all selected shortly after.

With the exception of Bane, who has looked fairly solid in two games, Pritchard has played better than everyone else listed above in this young season.

It’s too early to tell just how effective Payton Pritchard will be long-term for the Celtics, but his early contributions off the bench have been noticeable. For a Boston squad that prides itself on defense and one that needed a consistent scoring threat from distance, Pritchard could be exactly what the doctor ordered moving forward.