According to Holiday, the real challenge during Celtics practices was Payton Pritchard. The two-time NBA champion named the relentless backup guard as the one who gave him the most trouble in full-court drills.

“It might be Payton [Pritchard],” Holiday said on Run It Back TV. “There’s this drill that we have where you have to dribble against Payton full-court. He just be going crazy. Speed, handle, low to the ground so he could body you. Stops on a dime. Payton’s cold, bro.”

Holiday spent two seasons in Boston, averaging 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field. As the Celtics’ starting point guard, he helped lead them to the 2024 championship — just three years after lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Unfortunately, Holiday’s run with the Celtics recently came to an end following his trade to the Portland Trail Blazers this preseason. The move was a tough blow for Boston’s roster, but the front office chose to cut salary after a string of injuries derailed their title hopes heading into the 2025-26 campaign.

The Celtics, however, managed to keep Pritchard, a decision that looks increasingly valuable. Last season, he averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in a career-high 28.4 minutes per game. He carved out a sizeable role as one of the first options off the bench and became an integral part of their rotation. Now, he is gonna be more important with the absent of Jayson Tatum and could be a great partner of Brown.

His role only grew in importance over the course of the year, culminating in recognition as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. Pritchard’s consistent and selfless scoring was paired with disruptive defense, which Boston regularly used in practice to sharpen their stars’ ball-handling skills.

For Holiday, the impression was clear: Pritchard is more than a spark plug. In his eyes, the Celtics have a “secret weapon” in the scrappy guard — a player whose value extends well beyond the box score.

“No doubt about it. Congrats, Payton,” was the first post the Celtics published on their official Instagram and X accounts once the news broke that Pritchard had been honored by the NBA. The message was accompanied by an image showing the guard’s face alongside some of his impressive stats from this season.

Pritchard earned the award with a standout campaign. Among all bench players across the league, the Celtics guard led in total points (1,079), made three-pointers (246), and games with 20 or more points (23). He was also a key contributor in Boston finishing second in the Eastern Conference with a 61–21 record.

The Celtics later shared several more social media posts celebrating the award, including quotes from Payton himself about his work ethic and how it’s shaped his journey. “Somebody that just has a dying passion for something they love and pour everything into it. That’s the definition of hard work. That’s what I believe in… I just don’t think you can accomplish anything at the highest of levels, unless you give it all.”

How did the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting finish?

Payton Pritchard won the Sixth Man of the Year award by a wide margin. After announcing the honor for the Boston Celtics player, the NBA released the final voting results, which showed just how dominant his performance was among the league’s top bench contributors.

A global media panel of 100 voters determined the winner, using a point system of 5, 3, and 1 for first-, second-, and third-place votes. Payton received 82 first-place votes out of 100, while the remaining 18 voters placed him second or third—demonstrating strong consensus in his favor.

Pritchard led the voting with 454 points, followed by the Detroit Pistons’ Malik Beasley with 279. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Ty Jerome finished third with 91 points, with Cleveland’s De’Andre Hunter and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid trailing behind, among others.

Boston Celtics tie NBA record

With Payton Pritchard’s Sixth Man of the Year trophy, the Boston Celtics have tied the Los Angeles Clippers for the most winners of the award in league history, with five. Previous Celtics winners are Kevin McHale (1984 and 1985), Bill Walton (1986), and Malcolm Brogdon (2023).

“I feel like some teams should maybe not take as many threes, but those teams should not be us. We’re the best at doing it. Why would we change?” affirmed Pritchard. Despite the criticism, the Celtics remain one of the NBA’s top teams this season, currently ranking third in the league. They are averaging 51 three-point attempts per game, with a conversion rate of 36.6%. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has long adhered to a philosophy centered on offensive efficiency, emphasizing the importance of spacing and perimeter shooting.

These criticisms come at a time when several former players, including Shaq O’Neal, claim that NBA viewership is declining due to the overuse of three-point shooting. This opened a debate among NBA fans about whether the less risky, safer style of play is reducing in fanaticism. They believe that relying heavily on three-pointers can score many more points, but it detracts from the spectacle and limits creativity within the players, leading to repetitive play. Nevertheless, the Celtics’ stand firm in their stance as it has led them to win and be protagonists again.

The Celtics’ success this season can be attributed to the remarkable efficiency of their players, who average 37.6 three-point attempts per game. As exemplified by Brandin Podziemski, simply taking a high volume of shots is not enough, it is about converting those attempts with precision. Without that efficiency, a team’s chances of winning diminish.

What sets the Celtics apart is their ability to surround themselves with players who excel at shooting from deep. This focus on efficiency aligns perfectly with their playing style, allowing them to maximize their offensive output and maintain their spot as one of the league’s most dangerous teams.

How is Payton Pritchard performing this NBA season?

Payton Pritchard is enjoying the best season of his career, averaging 16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. His standout performances are proving he can be a crucial contributor for the Boston Celtics. What truly sets Pritchard apart, however, is his scoring efficiency, shooting 47% from the field and an impressive 42.1% from beyond the arc.

Pritchard’s relentless work ethic and dedication have earned praise from the Celtics organization and head coach Joe Mazzulla. While his scoring efficiency is a highlight, his defensive contributions have also been notable. Addressing critics, Pritchard stated: “I really want to be known as a two-way player, People like to, sometimes I see things that say I’m a defensive liability, and it irks me. Every game I go out and I try to prove that narrative wrong,” Pritchard also added: ““Me trying to be a complete two-way player is something I will always strive to be. If I can be known as an elite on-ball player and an elite offensive player, then that’s a big goal of mine.”

Pritchard understands that developing into a reliable force on both ends of the court will secure his role in key moments. His attitude, tenacity, and commitment continue to set him apart, making him an invaluable asset to the Celtics.

Payton Pritchard had a standout performance, scoring 29 points—second only to Tatum’s 35—while adding seven rebounds and one assist in just 29 minutes on the court. His impact was evident, and Tatum wasted no time in singling him out for his outstanding play.

“It’s been really cool to see him grow into the player he is, being effective on a championship team,” Tatum said in his postgame press conference. “The things that he’s doing… is Sixth Man of the Year worthy for me.”

Tatum, who has known Pritchard since their high school days, spoke about the guard’s competitive nature and tireless work ethic. “I say all the time, me and P, the same high school class, so I’ve been seeing that fearless competitive nature ever since we was like 13,” he explained. “He is always working on the court. Preseason, he’s always playing one-on-one, trying to get up extra shots. We see the work that he puts in. We trust him to make the right plays.”

Celtics value Pritchard highly

Jayson Tatum isn’t the only one to shine a light on Payton Pritchard’s impressive performances this season. Earlier this week, reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown also offered his praise and pointed at the Boston Celtics guard as a potential favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Pritchard gets the job done

After his standout performance in Chicago, Payton Pritchard took the opportunity to speak with the press and shared the key factors behind his improved level of play this season. “Through hard work,” Pritchard explained. “Just being confident in yourself, knowing that you belong with the best, and all the hard work and the hours you put in, in the summer time, that you’re capable of coming and helping the team win any given night. I have a strong belief in myself, and I feel like my teammates believe in me too to be able to take that on.”

On the confidence his teammates have shown in him, Pritchard added, “They see the hours I put in, and that builds respect throughout my teammates. That’s how I get respect from other people, but also how other people earn my respect is through the work.”

Pritchard’s numbers

Though Payton Pritchard is not part of the Celtics‘ regular starting five this year, he has still managed to make a significant impact off the bench. Through the early part of the season, Pritchard is averaging 15.6 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists—proving his worth every time head coach Joe Mazzulla calls on him. His consistent production has made him a potential candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Hours before tip-off, Brown responded to a social media post highlighting Payton Pritchard’s impressive stats and labeling him as a “Sixth Man of the Year front-runner.” Brown simply commented, “easily.” On the court, Pritchard proved him right.

Coming off the bench, Pritchard tied Jayson Tatum as the team’s leading scorer with 20 points while adding four assists, two steals, and two rebounds. He also drained six three-pointers, setting a career-high for three-pointers made in a single game.

After the game, Brown reiterated his support for Pritchard’s 6th Man candidacy. “I mean, it’s early in the season, but Payton’s been balling,” Brown said. “He’s been a superstar in his role all season long. He’s always been a hardworking guy that shows up early, puts his work in, but now it’s like we’re really starting to see the growth. I think Payton could be significant on any other team. He accepts his role and he has been fantastic for us.”

Joe Mazzulla on the bench’s impact

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized the importance of having a strong bench and how it complements the team’s stars. “The other guys on the court — Jayson, Jaylen, Jrue, Derrick, KP — they understand that those guys take the pressure off them,” Mazzulla said about his bench contributors.

“Those guys are able to give us a different look,” he added. “I like the fact that our team has an understanding that everyone’s got a role, everyone’s got a strength. We can go to different frequencies.”

Payton Pritchard on his role

Despite the buzz surrounding his 6th Man of the Year candidacy, Pritchard remains focused on his role in the team’s success. “We’re just trying to play the right basketball,” Pritchard said. “They know if our guys help and we’re open, they should kick the ball and let him take the open shot instead of forcing something up.”

“I feel like we’ve got great rhythm as a team,” he continued. “We understand that if you attack the paint, two on the ball, kick it. Everyone is capable of knocking down shots, and if you’re shooting at the rim, you’ve got to finish. Basketball is really simple when you make it like that.”

The Boston Celtics are looking to have one of the most powerful bench rotations in the upcoming 2023-2024 season. So far, they have made the right moves by signing players who are on the same level as Pritchard, Brown, Tatum, and other top players.

However, the bench is only one part of the equation. The key for the Boston Celtics to make it back to the postseason is having a perfect match between their starters and bench depth during rotations.

The franchise recently added Jay Scrubb as a sign that they want a strong bench that can keep the score up while starters like Jayson Tatum rest, plus they need Porzingis to adapt quickly, and he is likely to be benched during some games.

Who is the canadian guard that the Celtics recently signed?

The Boston Celtics announced via Twitter that they have officially signed Dalano Banton to play with the franchise for two seasons through 2025. His contract is fully guaranteed for $4,216,676, with an annual salary of $2,108,338 (according to Spotrac).

He previously played with the Toronto Raptors and their G League affiliate Raptors 905 from 2021 to 2023. Banton is 23 years old, 6’7″ (2.01m), and 204 lbs (93kg). He is a perfect addition to the Celtics bench.