NBA Awards are one of the main storylines of the regular season. Seven games into the season is far too early for real award discussion. Nevertheless, Payton Pritchard‘s incredible start to the season has established him as one of the league’s best bench players, making him an early front-runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Pritchard has been integral to the Boston Celtics’ success this season. The team is 6-1 to start the season, and Pritchard is having a career season. In 27.9 minutes per game, he is posting averages of 15.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 43.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc. His minutes, points, and three-point percentage are career highs. Furthermore, his 15.7 points make him the Celtics’ fourth-leading scorer, only behind Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White. Let’s dive into Pritchard’s strong start to the season.
Celtics’ Spark Plug Payton Pritchard is Making an Early Sixth Man of the Year Case
A Quintessential Sixth Man
Pritchard is a classic microwave scorer off the bench. His elite three-point shooting allows him to score in bunches, and he regularly hits heavily contested threes. Pritchard also has impressive range as a shooter on threes between 25-29 feet he is shooting an absurd 46.2 percent. Having Pritchard alongside such a talented offensive team is a true luxury for the Celtics. In addition to his shooting abilities, Pritchard is a crafty playmaker with great handles and solid passing he also makes plenty of hustle plays. This is the perfect skill set for a backup point guard, especially in the Celtics system. Pritchard gives the Celtics instant offense, adding extra juice to the league’s top-ranked offense. We’ve seen plenty of players with similar archetypes win the Sixth Man of the Year award Pritchard could be next in line.
Big-time moments are required to contend for any award, and Pritchard has delivered several in this young season. In a 119-108 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, Pritchard was the highlight of the night, notching 28 points and eight threes, including his signature end-of-quarter deep three. Notably, Pritchard’s eight made threes tied the Celtics franchise record for most threes made off the bench. Pritchard’s 22 points and six three-pointers in a 113-103 win against the Charlotte Hornets was also memorable. Ultimately, Pritchard’s ability to rack up threes and iconic last-second deep-range shots suit him well for his Sixth Man of the Year candidacy.
Payton Pritchard is showing what he can do with more minutes:
– Playing 27.9 minutes through 7 games
– Averaging 15.7 points per game
– Shooting 44.9% from the field
– Shooting 43.9% from deepHe has the fourth-most 3-point makes of any player this season. pic.twitter.com/xI3cL5LH5J
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) November 3, 2024
Excellent Stats
Currently, Pritchard ranks second in total bench points and is fifth in bench points per game. In addition to Pritchard’s impressive counting numbers and contributions to winning basketball, he has stellar advanced stats. With Pritchard on the court, the Celtics have a 126.1 offensive rating, giving him a +9.9 net difference. Furthermore, the Celtics have a 15.1 net rating, with Pritchard on the floor giving him a +5.0 net difference. Pritchard also ranks in the 92nd percentile for estimated offensive plus/minus. These advanced stats underscore Pritchard’s value, especially as an offensive threat.
Pritchard ranks first in both bench three-point attempts and makes. His 29 made three-pointers are also fourth in the league. These numbers put Pritchard in historic company. Pritchard is on pace to shatter Wayne Ellington‘s record for most three-pointers off the bench (218) in just 55 games. Moreover, he is on pace to join Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and James Harden as the only players to hit 300 or more threes in a single season. If Pritchard accomplishes this, he will be remembered for having one of the best seasons off the bench in league history.
The Last Word
While it’s still early in the season, Pritchard is primed to remain a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. He’ll have tough competition with guys like Naz Reid of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Malik Monk of the Sacramento Kings, and Buddy Hield of the Golden State Warriors. Nevertheless, Pritchard’s historic shooting and the Celtics’ success give him a clear case. If Pritchard continues his impressive play and the Celtics win 60-plus games, he will certainly be a frontrunner to win the award.
