Tag: payton pritchard

Payton Pritchard wins 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of Year award

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is the recipient of the John Havlicek Trophy as the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year for his contributions in a reserve role.

Pritchard has been named the Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year for the first time. He is the fourth player to earn the honor with the Celtics, joining Kevin McHale (1983-84 and 1984-85), Bill Walton (1985-86) and Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23).

In his fifth season, the 6-1 Pritchard averaged career highs of 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists in 28.4 minutes in 80 games (three starts). He shot a career-high 47.2% from the field, including 40.7% from three-point range. His 1,079 points off the bench were the most in the NBA.

Pritchard ranked fifth among all NBA players in three-pointers made with a career-high 255, the second most in a season in Celtics franchise history. He set an NBA single-season record for three-pointers made off the bench with 246 (his other nine threes made came as a starter).

Pritchard helped the Celtics (61-21) finish with the third-best record in the NBA and secure the No. 2 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

Celtics sign guard Payton Pritchard to contract extension

The Boston Celtics have signed guard Payton Pritchard to a contract extension.

Pritchard’s deal is reportedly a 4-year, $30 million extension.

“In addition to his great skill, Payton brings toughness, resiliency, and diligence that collectively elevate the room,” said Brad Stevens, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “We are excited that he chose to extend with the Celtics and look forward to what’s ahead.”

Pritchard has played in 185 games (nine starts) for the Celtics, averaging 15.7 minutes per game, 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He has a career field goal percentage of 43.0 percent and a three-point percentage of 40.0 percent. In each of his three seasons with the team, the West Linn, Oregon native has helped the Celtics get to the playoffs.

When Pritchard recorded a triple-double with at least 30 points against Atlanta on April 9 of last year, he became the ninth player in the team’s history to do so. He finished with a career-high 30 points (10-21 FG, 9-16 3FG), 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Pritchard is one of only two NBA players, along with James Harden, to have made at least nine three-pointers while also tallying a triple-double.

Pritchard played four years of collegiate basketball at the University of Oregon before being selected by the Boston Celtics with the 26th overall choice in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was named the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year, making him the first player in Oregon history and the second in Pac-12 history to receive the honor.

Celtics sign first round draft picks Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard

The Boston Celtics have signed 2020 first round draft picks Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard.

Selected 14th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Nesmith, a 6-6, 213-pound forward, produced career averages of 14.7 points (44.2% FG, 41.0% 3-PT, 82.5% FT), 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 31.0 minutes played in 46 collegiate games over two seasons at Vanderbilt University. The 21-year old thrived in limited action as a sophomore in 2019-20, averaging 23.0 points on 51.2% shooting – including a school-record 52.2% shooting mark from beyond the arc – to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.9 blocked shots, and 35.7 minutes in 14 games.

Nesmith knocked down at least seven three-point field goals in four of his 14 contests this past season, including a career-best eight threes against Southern Methodist University on Jan. 4. His 60 three-point field goals made (of 115) led the Commodores and ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference.

Pritchard, a 6-2, 190-pound guard, was drafted 26th overall by Boston out of the University of Oregon, where he averaged 20.5 points (46.8% FG, 41.5% 3-PT, 82.1% FT), 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 36.6 minutes played across 31 games (all starts) as a senior in 2019-20. Named the Pacific 12 Conference Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year award recipient this past season, Pritchard produced career highs in points, rebounds, and assists en route to being the University’s first consensus All-American since 1940.

A native Oregonian, Pritchard, 22, averaged 13.5 points on 43.7% shooting (37.9% 3-PT, 80.0% FT), 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 33.7 minutes in 144 collegiate games (140 starts) across four seasons with the Ducks. He finished his collegiate career as the only player in Pac 12 conference history to tally at least 1,900 points, 500 rebounds, and 600 assists.

Nesmith will wear number 26 with the Celtics, and Pritchard will wear number 11.