Three years ago, Boston Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard requested a trade. Since then, he's become an intregal part of the team. The Celtics inked Pritchard to a $44 million extension. After helping Boston win a championship in 2024, Payton has improved every season since that trade request. He won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, and is projected to make another stride in 2026-27.

Speaking to the media for the first time since his two-year contract extension last week, Pritchard looked back on his trade request in 2023.

“At the time, I wasn't playing. I've talked about this before,” Pritchard said. “It's a little delusional confidence that I have, but it's from my work, and all the hours I put in. I believe that I can help this team win at a high level. Not many people believed in it at the time, or thought I was crazy, but I truly believed that. Obviously, things opened up for me. It worked out. I took advantage of it. Hopefully, I'll continue to take advantage of it.”

Celtics guard Payton Pritchard averaged a career-best in points (17.0), assists (5.2), and rebounds (3.9) per game in 2025-26. Boston rewarded that success with a two-year extension, which keeps him under contract through the 2029-30 season.

“It means a lot, from, obviously, Brad, and the organization — Bill [Chisholm] — and all them to offer that. So, I'm definitely grateful for it,” Pritchard said. “Happy to sign another two years to be in Boston. I love it. So, I like competing for the city, and competing for the organization. I feel very honored.”

After posting an inspirational post on Instagram, questioning how different his life could have been if he had listened to his doubters, Pritchard looks at the past three years as a testament to his hard work, and constantly believing in himself as a player.

“It's a long journey. It's kind of been my whole basketball career from high school, college; all that,” Pritchard added. “You go through so many ups and downs. You just got to keep going every day, and just trying to get better and better. You just don't know how far you can take it. I think it just shows that I'm on the right path.”

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For Payton Pritchard, who has spent his entire six-year career with the Celtics, there isn't any other organization he'd rather play for. The standard that's set in Boston has helped mold him to the high-caliber player he is today.

“I think it's what Boston represents. You go for championships. They hold you to a high standard,” Pritchard said. “The media holds you to a high standard. The organization, too. I appreciate being in an environment like that, and I think it really make you a better player. It can either break you or really make you. And that's definitely something I want to be a part of.”

Pritchard and the Celtics will face the Detroit Pistons in their regular-season opener on Tuesday.