Payton Pritchard

Payton Michael Pritchard was born on January 28, 1998, in Tualatin, Oregon. His early basketball career showcased significant talent, as he led West Linn High School to four consecutive state titles. He was recognized as the Todd Pratt Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015, Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year, and Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year in 2015. During his junior year (2014–15), he averaged 22 points and 5.8 assists per game, followed by 23.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.1 steals as a senior (2015–16). A four-star recruit, Pritchard committed to the University of Oregon Ducks in August 2015, where he continued to develop his skills.

Pritchard’s college career at the University of Oregon was marked by consistent growth and achievement. In his freshman year (2016–17), he played 39 games, averaging 7.4 points and 3.6 assists, contributing to Oregon’s first Final Four appearance since the inaugural NCAA tournament. His sophomore year (2017–18) saw his performance increase significantly, averaging 14.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. As a junior, he overcame a slow start to lead Oregon to a Pac-12 Tournament Championship, earning the tournament MVP title while averaging 12.9 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.9 rebounds. In his senior year (2019–20), Pritchard became a standout player in collegiate basketball, scoring 22 points and making a game-winning shot against Washington, and later becoming Oregon’s all-time assists leader. He finished his senior season averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds, and was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American, also receiving the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.

Drafted 26th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2020 NBA Draft, Pritchard swiftly transitioned to professional basketball. He signed a four-year, $10.5 million rookie contract on November 24, 2020. His debut preseason game saw him score 17 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. Throughout his rookie season (2020–21), he demonstrated his capabilities, scoring a career-high 23 points against the Toronto Raptors on January 4, 2021, and making a game-winning layup against the Miami Heat shortly after. He earned his first NBA start on January 12. In the 2022 NBA Finals, he contributed to the Celtics’ run, ultimately losing to the Golden State Warriors. In the 2022-23 season, he achieved his first triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. On October 8, 2023, he signed a new four-year, $30 million contract extension with the Celtics. During the 2023-24 season, he played in all 82 regular-season games, averaging 22.3 minutes, and scored a career-high 32 points with 11 assists against the Charlotte Hornets on April 12, 2024. He continued to set personal bests with 38 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds against the Washington Wizards. Pritchard secured his first NBA Championship in June 2024 with the Boston Celtics. In the 2024-25 season, he scored a career-high 43 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 5, 2025, and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award on April 22, 2025.