Boston -- Jaylen Brown's departure means more opportunities for Payton Pritchard this season. He's not the only one. But further empowering the former Sixth Man of the Year sparks curiosity. It has people wondering whether he could evolve into the Celtics' version of Jalen Brunson.
Becoming a Finals MVP is an unfair expectation. People aren't placing that weight on Pritchard's shoulders. However, it feels like he's on the verge of a career year.
The former Oregon Duck should start for Boston. Either way, he could finish as this team's second-leading scorer.
At Celtics Media Day, the soon-to-be seventh-year guard shared the areas he believes will make the biggest difference between who he was on the court last season and who he will be this one.
What does growth look like for Payton Pritchard?
To him, it's about raising his efficiency. He's coming off a campaign in which he knocked down nearly 38 percent of the 7.1 threes that he hoisted. Seeing that conversion rate climb higher while maintaining that type of volume is doable, but difficult. His current output is plenty good enough.
Still, even after making 55.6 percent of his two-point attempts, there is room to raise his field goal percentage from 46.4 percent.
One of the challenges to that would be getting more isolation attempts. Pritchard was one of the best iso scorers in the league last season. He parlayed those opportunities into the third-most points per possession [minimum 60 games and an average of at least one such field-goal attempt], per NBA Stats.
Utilizing his quickness, tight handles, contact balance, and craftiness, he produced 5.9 points per tilt in the paint last season. As those attempts increase, his field goal percentage might not do the same. However, he can still become a more efficient scorer.
Why Payton Pritchard could become a more efficient scorer
The six-foot-one guard wants to get to the free-throw line more. He has spent this offseason working on that. He has studied some of the best at manufacturing trips to the stripe.
Foul-baiting is a part of the game. Now, he is ready to take more advantage of it. As much as viewers and opponents don't love grifting, it's a smart way for him to raise his average after scoring 17.0 points per game last season.
The 28-year-old is nearly a 90 percent free-throw shooter. However, that's on fewer than 1.0 attempts per contest. It's prime real estate for growth.
The same goes for his desire to start dishing out more assists. He's an underrated two-way player, best known for his scoring. However, Pritchard averaged 5.2 assists in the 2025-26 campaign. With the ball in his hands even more, that figure could tick up too. It's an exciting part of how he could elevate his game this year.
Payton Pritchard wants to become more of a leader
The Oregon native spent this summer anchored in Boston. It has become home for him. That meant that when the younger players arrived, he was already there.
Pritchard's work ethic leads by example. Now he wants to become more of a vocal leader for this team. That makes him the second-longest-tenured Celtic on the roster. Stepping into that role, especially with Jaylen Brown gone, makes sense.
It's another example of why, as much as this season's version of Pritchard will resemble last year's, there is ample room for his ascent.
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