Payton Pritchard played a huge part in the Boston Celtics' inspired run last season. The Celtics were not expected to be competitive, let alone advance to the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference, but Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White proved everyone wrong.
Entering his seventh season, Pritchard will continue to play a major role in Boston with his scoring and playmaking off the bench, although he could easily be a starter.
In a video posted by CLNS, the 28-year-old guard touted his work ethic and consistent improvement.
“Everybody always tries to put people in a box. Every year in my career, since I've been young, people have put me in this box, like, ‘This is the player you can be,' and I just feel like those expectations, I've blown them out of the water,” said Pritchard.
“I don't know what I can be doing differently, but I will find something that will make me excel to another level.”
Article Continues BelowPayton Pritchard says he's blown expectations "out of the water" throughout his career and will continue to find ways to improve his game:
"Everybody always tries to put people in a box… I will find something that will make me excel to another level."
–@CLNSMedia pic.twitter.com/aQi0JFVx2A— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) September 28, 2026
Last season, he averaged career-highs of 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists, with coach Joe Mazzulla giving him a bigger responsibility.
With the exit of Brown, the former Sixth Man of the Year will see more opportunities as a key part of the rotation, along with White, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, and Mitchell Robinson.
With his steady rise, Payton is expected to receive a contract extension worth around $22 million a year, as reported by the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn.
The former Oregon standout, who helped the Celtics win the title in 2024, will make $7.7 million this year.