Payton Pritchard has earned the opportunity to start for the Boston Celtics next season, regardless of Anfernee Simons’ resume with the Portland Trail Blazers. Simons has been an extremely impressive scorer for the past few years, but sometimes, stats come with opportunity. Pritchard deserves that chance.
For the past five seasons, Pritchard has slowly worked his way up the Celtics’ depth chart, weaving his way between three different coaches, a trade request, and inconsistent minutes. Now, with Jrue Holiday gone, the starting point guard position should be Pritchard’s. And perhaps more importantly, Boston should want to see what he has to offer in that spot.
If the argument is between him and Simons, one player has a definitive future with the team. One doesn’t.
Why should Payton Pritchard start over Anfernee Simons?
Last season, with the most scoring opportunities he’s had up to this point in his career, Pritchard had his most efficient season to date. He shot 44% on corner threes and 41% on non-corner threes, adding in 53% shooting on mid-range shots (which ranked in the 100th percentile of players at his position, per Cleaning the Glass).
Everywhere on the court where Pritchard touched the ball, he scored at an impressive clip. Even in the paint, Pritchard managed to shoot 75% at the rim. His 63.1% effective field goal percentage also ranked in the 100th percentile of players at his position.
Simons has also been a very efficient shooter up to this point in his career, but not to the level of Pritchard. It’s not a completely fair comparison, though. Pritchard has had the benefit of playing next to superstars, while Simons has largely been the primary scoring option in Portland.
When Simons was playing next to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, he enjoyed two of the most efficient seasons of his career. Still, it wasn’t as efficient as Pritchard’s 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year campaign.
Add in Pritchard’s advantage on the defensive end, and it makes sense to roll with him as the starter. But that’s not even the most convincing piece of evidence.
Simons is on an expiring contract. Boston will have to either trade him or risk losing him for nothing next summer, and that’s without even considering whether or not he’ll fit in well with the rest of the roster.
Pritchard, on the other hand, is under contract for three more years, including the 2025-26 season. He’s on a great contract and a solidified part of the Celtics’ future.
Giving Pritchard, who will definitely be around in Boston for the foreseeable future, the chance to start and develop over Simons, who may not be long for the organization, makes the most sense, no matter how you spin it.