The Boston Celtics are on a tear to begin the 2024-25 NBA season. Through 18 games, the reigning champions are 15-3. Additionally, they rank as the third-best offensive team and seventh-best defensive team in the league. They are also still the only team to have defeated the 17-1 Cleveland Cavaliers over a month into the season. They did most of this without Kristaps Porzingis, who made his season debut during the Celtics’ win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Boston’s success is no surprise. Jayson Tatum is playing at an MVP level, and they are getting great performances from other key players, most notably Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Al Horford. However, another solid contributor is backup guard Payton Pritchard, who is now firmly in the conversation to win this year’s Sixth Man of the Year award and has the support of his teammates.
Recently, Brown took to X to say Pritchard is “easily” the front-runner for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Additionally, after Boston’s win over the Clippers, Brown once again lobbied for Pritchard and praised his performance this season.
“I mean, it’s early in the season, but Payton’s been balling,” Brown said postgame. “He’s been a superstar in his role all season long. He’s always been a hard-working guy that shows up early, puts his work in, but now it’s like, you’re really starting to see the growth.
“I think Payton could be significant on any other team. He accepts his role and he has been fantastic for it. So anytime I’m in a game, I’m looking to get him going. Anytime he’s on the court, he’s a threat. Payton has been balling. It’s been pretty obvious.”
Jaylen Brown Campaigns for Payton Pritchard to Win Sixth Man of the Year Award
Payton Pritchard’s Season With the Boston Celtics So Far
The Oregon native, now in his fifth season with the Celtics, is in the midst of a breakout campaign. Through 18 games, all off the bench, Pritchard is averaging 14.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals. Additionally, he is shooting 47.3% from the field and 42.6% from the three-point line. Pritchard’s impact also goes beyond the box score. he is a microwave off the bench who can regularly ignite runs for the Celtics on offense. Additionally, he is a pesky defender and has improved a lot in this area.
According to BetMGM, Pritchard (+170) is the betting favorite to win the award. Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (+450) has the second-highest odds. Furthermore, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year winner Naz Reid (+1600) has the fifth-best odds of winning it again. While Pritchard has a good chance to bring home the award, he also acknowledged that it is not entirely in his control.
“It’s really out of my control,” Pritchard said when asked about the award. “If I get voted for that and I get that honor, that would be incredible, but I’m not going to chase it and go try to get stats. It’s more about playing winning basketball. And if I’m fortunate enough to win it through that, then that would be an honor.”
The Last Word
The season is still young, but Pritchard is looking like a real contender to win the award. If he does so, it will be the fourth time a Celtics player won the award, with the most recent recipient being Malcolm Brogdon during the 2022-23 season.
