Payton Pritchard

Pritchard received a significant boost in playing time last season. During the 2022-23 season, Pritchard appeared in only 48 games and averaged a modest 13.4 minutes per game, a small decrease compared to the prior season. Last year, Pritchard appeared in all 82 regular-season games at 22.3 minutes per contest. He also appeared in all 18 of Boston's postseason games. The increased playing time corresponded with much better shooting percentages. The reserve guard shot 46.8 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the foul line last season versus percentages of 41.2 and 75.0 in 2022-23. Pritchard also displayed a knack for draining buzzer-beating long threes, which everyone witnessed during the playoffs and NBA Finals. Pritchard's scoring flair has made him a fan favorite, but that won't change his role as a reserve. USA Olympians Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are locked in as the starting backcourt for many seasons to come. That leaves Pritchard fighting for minutes as the first guard off the bench. But much like last season, Pritchard has very little competition from Boston's other reserve guards. Jaden Springer is a defensive specialist and a work in progress. Rookie Baylor Scheierman, at 6-foot-6, is probably more of a small forward than a guard. And two-way contract guard JD Davison desperately needs to work on his outside shooting. Pritchard has three more seasons remaining on his current contract. Expect him to maintain his current role of "scoring off the bench" for the duration of that agreement.