From the bench to the throne: the ascent of an NBA champion
In short: He was once a role player fighting through a 'rookie wall.' Now, Payton Pritchard has transformed from a 26th overall draft pick into an NBA Sixth Man of the Year and a cornerstone of the Boston Celtics' championship era.
Payton Pritchard’s journey to NBA stardom is defined by steady, incremental breakthroughs. After being selected 26th overall in the 2020 NBA draft, his early professional years were marked by a struggle for efficiency known as the 'rookie wall.' However, by the 2024–25 season, he had shattered records, setting a new NBA benchmark for the most three-pointers made by a player coming off the bench in a single season.
His collegiate years at the University of Oregon established his reputation as a high-stakes performer. During his final college year, Pritchard broke the programme's total assists record and received the Bob Cousy Award for being the country's premier point guard. His knack for performing under pressure surfaced in early 2020, via a 30-foot basket against Washington that secured a 16-point comeback, and subsequently in the NBA, where he joined icons such as Bob Cousy and Larry Bird as the sole Celtics to achieve consecutive 30-point, 10-assist double-doubles.
The pinnacle of his career arrived during the 2023–24 season. Following a massive four-year, $30 million contract extension, Pritchard played every single regular-season game for the Celtics. This reliability culminated in an NBA championship in 2024, a season in which he also showcased incredible range, including a half-court shot at the buzzer during the NBA Finals. By 2025, his transition from a specialist to a dominant force was cemented when he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, receiving 82 of 100 first-place votes.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Payton Pritchard
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