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Battle-Tested Payton Pritchard's Emerged Confident, Committed, and Now, Contractually Secure: 'I Won't Let It Ever Break Me'
A season spent mostly on the bench was an experience that tested Payton Pritchard's confidence and perseverance even more than his ability.
The former Oregon Duck, who entered the 2022-23 campaign determined to earn more minutes than the 14.1 he averaged as a sophomore in the Association, saw those hopes dashed by the acquisition of Malcolm Brogdon.
He still showed flashes of why he belongs in an NBA rotation. That included registering a 30-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in the Celtics' win over the Hawks in their regular-season finale.
Granted, that was a game where most rotation players on both sides rested for the playoffs. But his performance placed him in elite company, joining Larry Bird and John Havlicek as the only players in franchise history with a triple-double of at least 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
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While that performance gave the 25-year-old combo guard something positive to build off heading into the summer, averaging 13.4 minutes in his third NBA season, toiling away most nights, is a scenario that takes its toll on many players who find themselves in a similar situation.
Before Boston's 114-106 victory in its preseason opener against the 76ers, when asked about Pritchard's four-year, $30 million contract extension, Joe Mazzulla expressed the following.
"Payton's one of my favorite people. Most guys in his position, the league breaks them," proceeding to praise his toughness and stating, "I'm happy to coach him."
A significant part of the West Linn, Oregon, native putting last season behind him was his experience with the USA Select Team.
Pritchard told Inside The Celtics that doing so was a "confidence booster," adding, "All the players, there are like top-level players, you know, there's stars of their team so to go out there and compete with those guys and see where your game matches up is. It definitely was a boost of confidence, and you know, I believe in myself at a high level. So, I'll continue to do that."
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When informed of his head coach's comments about his toughness, the sharpshooting guard, who erupted for 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, propelling Boston to its exhibition win over Philadelphia, conveyed the following about why last season didn't break him.
"Really, just the love of love of the game. Obviously, I had good people in my corner that kept my head on right. And at the end of the day, I love to play basketball, and that's why I showed up every day to keep getting better and better because this is what I want to do. I don't want to do anything else. So, I won't let it ever break me because I'm trying to play as long as possible."
His extension doesn't guarantee he'll be with the Celtics long-term, but it means he'll have a place in the NBA for at least five more seasons, counting the upcoming campaign.
While he understood the magnitude of contractual conversations with the franchise that drafted him, he chose to stay out of those talks.
"I really wasn't a part of it. I just heard the numbers side of things and all that, and then it got to a number I was comfortable with, and yeah, I didn't really want to be a part of that conversation. I just wanted to hoop and handle that. I let my agent handle all that side of things."
But now that extension talks are also behind him, a deal getting ironed out "feels really good. Just to be secure. Lock it in, and then be a part of a great organization and (a) great city. Obviously, I feel this is the best basketball organization and city in the NBA, so it feels good."
Further Reading
Team USA ‘Aggressively Pursuing’ Celtics Guard for Paris Olympics
Celtics, Payton Pritchard Agree to Long-Term Extension
Jayson Tatum Reacts to Damian Lillard Joining Bucks, Discusses Celtics' Urgency to Win Now
Sensing Celtics' Excitement, Intensity, Paul Pierce Believes Jrue Holiday's 'The Missing Piece'
Celtics seek long-term marriage with Jrue Holiday
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
