A few years ago, glued to the bench, Payton Pritchard pondered a change in scenery. How could he not? He was buried behind veterans like Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon. The year before, he was initially fighting for minutes behind Dennis Schroder.
That 2022-23 campaign challenged his resolve, probably more than any other season in his life. He appeared in only 48 games, averaging 13.4 minutes per contest.
Sometimes the best trade is the one you don't make.
While Pritchard was ready to leave, and the Boston Celtics had to consider whether it was worth parting with him for an upgrade at center, potentially, Jakob Poeltl, at the 2023 trade deadline, thankfully for both sides, that didn't materialize.
Payton Pritchard blossoms into a part of the Celtics' core
The former first-round pick finally broke through in 2023-24. He appeared in all 82 regular-season games, emerging as a rotation staple. For an encore, he earned the Sixth Man of the Year Award last season.
Pritchard produced 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and nearly 1.0 steals per contest. Those were all career highs that stemmed from him logging 28.4 minutes per tilt. He also knocked down 40.7 percent of the 7.8 threes he hoisted.
Thanks to his work in the weight room, including focusing on strengthening his upper body, he made his most significant leap on the defensive end of the floor.
Pritchard increasingly earned more opportunities to guard the opposing team's best perimeter player. He proved an effective option against body types and playing styles ranging from Luka Doncic to last season's league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cade Cunningham.
"I feel like a lot of it has to do with working in the weight room, getting stronger, faster, quicker, and being in better shape. But just being fearless and never backing down from a moment," Pritchard told this author about his growth on defense in an exclusive interview last season.
Now he's finally got his chance to start in the backcourt, doing so alongside Derrick White. Even when he was searching for his rhythm as a shooter, his ability to push the pace and produce one of the NBA's best assist-to-turnover ratios made him an important contributor. The same goes for making his presence felt on defense.
The sixth-year guard is averaging 17.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds this season. He has yet to miss a game. Being an iron man is a part of what makes Pritchard special, as the 27-year-old keeps evolving.
He has gone from being on the outside of the rotation looking in to the Sixth Man of the Year and now becoming a starter. Who knows what's next for him? What Pritchard has made clear is that it's foolish to put a ceiling on his ability to level up.