Payton Pritchard may join Boston Celtics royalty and become the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year on Tuesday night. Two of the franchise's three recipients of that honor are enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame: Kevin McHale and Bill Walton.
Pritchard set a new playoff-career high, scoring 19 points in the Celtics' 103-86 victory vs. the Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round series. After the win, Joe Mazzulla raved to Hardwood Houdini about the former first-round pick's two-way impact.
"His ball pressure; I thought he was just as good defensively as he was offensively," said Mazzulla. "Him pushing the pace at the offensive end was big for us. But really, his physicality at the point of attack was big for us. And I think he got two tip-out lead runs in the second half that were big for us…[He] just made things happen."
Pritchard's performance reflected this season being the best of his five in the Association. It's a testament to a growth mindset he discussed with this author in an exclusive and wide-ranging interview.
And on Tuesday afternoon at the Auerbach Center, the former Oregon Duck shared with Hardwood Houdini what aspect of his growth this season he's most proud of.
"My consistency," said Pritchard. "Game in, game out. Limiting overall bad games. I'm proud of that. My efficiency shooting-wise, I think, has been really good this year. Every summer, finding different ways to keep getting better and better and elevate my game, especially in the playoffs. And then, hopefully, next year comes, and I elevate it again."
Did Al Horford spoil the Sixth Man of the Year results?
Before Pritchard took his turn at the Auerbach Center podium, Al Horford met with the media. When asked about Pritchard vying with Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome for Sixth Man of the Year, a beaming Horford may have indicated he already knows the outcome.
"I'm just so proud of Payton and the job that he's done," said Horford. "His consistency with his work ethic, and how hard he works, [and] how he's taking care of his body. How he took the challenge on this year and [is] trying to take his game to another level, not only on the offensive end but defensively; it's remarkable to see.
"And then, being put in different positions and trying to figure it out," continued the Celtics' elder statesman. "There were a few games this year that he could have gone and scored a lot more or chased records and done things like that, and you can see this tape, you can see the film, he's making the right play after right play in different moments.
"Instead of going for him, he's making an extra pass because it's the right thing to do. He's passing up a three and getting a two when he has a chance to break a three-point record."
Regardless of the outcome and the possibility this honor goes to another candidate, Horford's proud of how Pritchard has carried himself on a journey taking him from out of Boston's rotation to an essential part of a title team trying to usher in the NBA's next dynasty.
"He plays the right way, and I'm so impressed [by] how he's been able to handle everything and how he gets himself ready to compete at that level. So, I don't think it's any secret. I don't want to jump the gun, but we're very happy for Payton."