Payton Pritchard recently weighed in on his new veteran teammates. The former Sixth Man of the Year -- who becomes eligible for a contract extension in October -- sat down with Chris Forsberg at Brian Scalabrine's training facility, White Mamba. It's the site of the former Oregon star's youth basketball camp.
As Pritchard shared his outlook on the Boston Celtics' offseason acquisitions, he was as brief as he was blunt when discussing Paul George's arrival.
"We saw what he did to us in the playoffs; he's a great player and does a lot of great things," stated a guard who, as hard as it is to believe, is already entering his seventh NBA season.
Why Paul George is a Seamless Fit for the Celtics
Pritchard's spot on about that. The Celtics need to carefully manage George's workload, especially with 16 back-to-backs, tied for the most in the league this season.
However, he's a clean fit in Joe Mazzulla's system. He'll take care of the ball, is a reliable 3-point shooter, and he's still an effective iso scorer.
On the other side of the ball, as a perimeter defender, he does a good job of staying in front of his assignment. He's also disruptive. He's averaging 1.7 steals per game for his career. That will help elevate Boston's transition attack.
As the C's saw when George was fresh for the postseason, even at 36, if the nine-time All-Star has his legs under him, he can still be highly impactful at both ends of the court.
Payton Pritchard gains the ultimate veteran mentor in Mike Conley
The Celtics' first foray into free agency this summer was signing Conley. He's about to become just the 14th player in NBA history to reach 20 seasons. Don't expect his new team to lean on him too much. The plan to optimize him won't include placing an excessive burden on someone who turns 39 in October.
Conley's career, which is about to span two decades, includes earning All-Star status and battling in the Western Conference Finals. He has pearls of wisdom to offer an ascending player he'll now share the backcourt with.
"If I could look back and have a similar career that he's had, then I would be very happy with that, because he is an unbelievable player; [he] had an unbelievable career, and somebody that I can learn a lot from," expressed Pritchard.
The 28-year-old could be on his way to a starting role again. Like a former Boston guard, Jrue Holiday, Conley is widely considered an exceptional teammate and a valued voice in the locker room. Pritchard having him in his corner can only help as he takes the next step in his career.
'Best rebounder in the league': Pritchard raves over Robinson
Mitchell Robinson was the Celtics' prized summer signing. Boston inked him to a three-year, $47.4 million contract. While he'll bring more to the table than his best attributes, naturally, people can't help but first gravitate toward his impact on the glass.
"We're definitely very lucky to have him, best rebounder in the league. Second chances ... that's going to be a big help," stated Pritchard.
MITCHELL ROBINSON.
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2026
WON'T BE DENIED.
Knicks rolling early in Game 5, seeking a 3-2 series lead! pic.twitter.com/qMl3d1I9yp
Robinson won't just help the Celtics win on the margins; he's an excellent rim protector. The former New York Knicks center averaged 1.2 blocks in under 20 minutes of playing time in the 2025-26 campaign. He also generated 2.1 deflections per contest.
Offensively, his combination of size and athleticism makes him an ideal lob threat for Pritchard and the rest of Boston's primary ball handlers. His punishing screens are also a core reason they figure to love working pick-and-rolls with him.
Signing Robinson to form a potent 1-2 punch with Neemias Queta, Conley's veteran wisdom, and George's fit and potential impact if managed properly, which figures to be the case, are reasons for Pritchard and Celtics fans to be excited about who Boston brought on board this offseason.
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