The Boston Celtics saw Payton Pritchard perform better as a sixth man last season, but they must start him after adding Mike Conley. Boston can’t have two undersized guards in their bench backcourt. Conley turns 39 before opening night and declined significantly last season. He should be a 15 to 20 minute per game option at this stage of his career. That makes Conley the reserve and pushes Pritchard into the starting five.
Pritchard was better coming off the bench last season. He averaged more points on significantly better efficiency as the sixth man, despite playing less. The 6’1 guard had a 60.7 true shooting percentage, which was 3.5 percent higher than as a starter. Pritchard has become a key part of the Celtics, and his ideal role is being the best sixth man in the NBA.
Boston has Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Paul George locked into their starting five. Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson will battle for the starting center spot. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has options for his fifth starter, but Pritchard is the choice if they plan on having Conley in the rotation. They need Pritchard’s scoring and shot creation in the opening group, which isn’t ideal for the talented guard.
Payton Pritchard must start after Celtics signed Mike Conley
Pritchard’s shooting percentage rose from 45.6 to 47.7 percent when he was coming off the bench. He shot 42.9 percent on his 3-point attempts as a reserve and only 34.8 percent as a starter. No matter the metric, the 28-year-old was better coming off the bench.
Pritchard demanded a trade years ago when he was struggling to get minutes. The Celtics wisely kept him in Boston. He won Sixth Man of the Year in 2025 and may have repeated last season if he didn’t start 50 games. Pritchard carves up second units with his shooting and creation, which gives the Celtics a massive edge when the benches battle.
Bringing Conley off the bench should help hide his defensive issues and allow him to help mentor the Celtics' young wings. The veteran is known for his leadership, which could be massive for Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman as they look to take another step forward.
Pritchard averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game as a starter last season. He was a below-average 3-point shooter, but the 6’1 guard didn’t have Jayson Tatum healthy to feed him open looks. Having the superstar back should make things easier for Pritchard and allow him to thrive in the starting group. Fans can't expect his bench efficiency against more difficult assignments, but he will produce.
Celtics fans are already bracing for a career year from Pritchard. The 28-year-old is in the middle of his prime and should have a larger role than ever with Jaylen Brown on the Philadelphia 76ers. Paul George is more of a 3-and-D wing at this stage of his career. Boston needs a number two scorer, and Pritchard is the obvious answer to fill that role.
The Boston Celtics must take Payton Pritchard out of the sixth man role and start him after adding Mike Conley. The 19-year veteran will be the backup point guard and play a minimal role. Pritchard will be the 32-minute-per-game starter and have the largest offensive opportunity for his career.
It may not be Pritchard’s ideal role, but he will figure out how to thrive as a starter. Fans have seen him scale up in recent years. This is just a shot to do it again. Supporters should know by now to never bet against Pritchard.
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