As a rookie, Payton Pritchard played nearly 20 minutes per game. What came next was a step back. And then another one. He averaged fewer than 14 minutes over the next two years.
Spending most nights confined to the bench breaks people. Instead, he focused on becoming his best self. He attacked that relentlessly. An opportunity with Team USA's Select Team sharpened his skills. Then came a contract extension that gave him security. He turned it into arguably the most team-friendly deal in the NBA.
Now, Pritchard has added a two-year, $44.2 million contract extension to that agreement. The six-year veteran has gone from outside the Boston Celtics' rotation to the second-longest-tenured player on their active roster, behind Jayson Tatum.
"You go through so many ups and downs; you've just gotta keep going, keep getting better every day," said Pritchard while discussing his career on Sunday at the Auerbach Center. "You just don't know how far you can take it."
What Celtics' young wings can learn from Payton Pritchard
Despite the obstacles in his path, the former Oregon star has persevered. He has done so with a defiant, triumphant spirit that embodies the city he plays in.
His unwavering belief in himself is something that Boston's burgeoning wings will need on their NBA journeys. The same goes for the daily work he puts in. From ball-handling drills to the weight room, he's a superlative example. He personifies the Celtics' culture and the standard the team lives by.
Achieving that is a product of his passion for the game. He genuinely loves to hoop. Players like Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Jordan Walsh do too. They'll need that to fuel them. Even after playing three games in four nights in the dog days of the season, Pritchard brings joy and fierce determination to the court. That commitment is contagious. It's an energy that elevates those around him.
The Celtics' young wings should apply Payton Pritchard's message
Sunday, Pritchard reiterated that coming off the bench doesn't bother him. Boston's starting lineup will be fluid. It will change during the season. However, all signs point to Jordan Walsh being in the first unit for Tuesday's opener against the Detroit Pistons.
The former Sixth Man of the Year still figures to be in the closing lineup. That matters to him. So does being on the court as much as possible. However, his focus is on maximizing his minutes.
Players like Scheierman, Gonzalez, and Walsh must maintain that mindset throughout the year. It's a mature, focused group. However, the season gets long. Jockeying for minutes on a crowded depth chart can get frustrating. Pritchard has been there. It's not always easy to deal with. Yet it's paramount that they focus on becoming their best self.
That mentality leads to growth and impactful minutes. That, along with the maturity required to thrive amidst intense internal competition, paves the way to achieving one's ultimate goals. Just ask Pritchard.
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