Payton Pritchard loves challenging Jaylen Brown for the perfect reason

BRIGHTON — The Boston Celtics didn’t get to where they are now by taking it easy. Neither did Payton Pritchard. Throughout his time in the NBA, he’s made a name for himself as one of the most competitive players in the league. He’s always going at max speed. The dial always turned up to 11.

Even when Pritchard was tested, he persevered. The Celtics guard found himself out of the rotation during the 2022-23 season only to bounce back and emerge as a key cog of the 2023-24 title team. Now, he’s looking to build on the work he’s put in up to this point, and Jaylen Brown is giving him a boost along the way.

As are the rest of the Celtics stars.

Pritchard isn't scared of anybody

After practice on Friday, I asked Pritchard about which Celtics player he enjoys competing against the most in practice, and a smile crept across his face as Brown was the first player he named.

“I really like going at JB,” Pritchard said.

But while Brown was the first guy Pritchard thought of, his mind quickly raced through the entire Celtics starting lineup. In reality, Pritchard just likes to battle against the best possible competition.

“JT, too. But I mean, I also get to go against two Olympian guards, too, in Jrue [Holiday] and Derrick [White],” Pritchard said. “So, for me and my development, it's awesome because I get to go against the best every day.”

This is exactly the type of mindset that the best players in the world should have.

Pritchard has never been gifted anything. He’s never been the biggest player on the floor. He’s never been the most athletic. And nowadays, he’s rarely the most talented. But at a certain point, pushing yourself takes precedent over all of those factors.

Year after year, Pritchard has committed his life to improving at the game of basketball, and by challenging the best players in the world on a daily basis, he accomplishes that goal.

It’s what’s going to set him up for a very bright future.

“I don't know what my future will hold just because of what I get to go against and craft myself through that,” Pritchard said. “By failing over and over and then getting better for that.”

Pritchard may never make the All-Star Team. He won’t win any MVPs. He may never play heavy minutes in the NBA Finals. But he’s an essential part of the current iteration of Celtics basketball.

And if he continues to push himself against the likes of Brown, Tatum, Holiday, and White, the sky is the limit.