The NBA is a league built on expectation. Every year, the draft produces a new generation of unmissable phenoms: players established as future legends before they even step foot in an NBA arena. But every once in a while, a player comes along who changes the script, shatters expectations, and earns it all through hard work. In 2025, that player will be Payton Pritchard.
The underdog no one saw coming
Let’s be honest: No one expected Payton Pritchard to become a household name. A first-round draft pick in 2020 out of Oregon, Pritchard entered the league without fanfare, without a top-tier pedigree, and, most surprisingly, without a guaranteed spot in the Boston Celtics’ rotation. He was too short, too slow, too “average”—or so the experts said.
But five years later, Pritchard’s resume reads like something out of a basketball fairy tale:
– **NBA Champion (2024)**
– **Sixth Man of the Year (2025)**
– **Most bench three-pointers in NBA history**
– **Career 40% three-point shooting shooter**
And perhaps the most shocking fact of all? He’s accomplished it all before turning 28.
Charles Barkley: “He became an exceptional player”
When Charles Barkley—never one to sugarcoat his opinions—was asked about Pritchard’s Sixth Man of the Year award, he didn’t hold back:
You know what the best thing about that situation is? He built his game. He became an exceptional player. A lot of kids came in, got all the attention and everything, but that kid became a fantastic NBA player. It’s nice to see kids win awards like that.
Coming from Barkley, a Hall of Famer who has seen all kinds of players come and go, it’s not just a compliment. It’s a coronation.
The shocking secret behind Pritchard’s rise
So how did Payton Pritchard go from “just another guy” to the NBA’s most electrifying bench player? The answer, according to experts, is a tireless work ethic that borders on obsession.
Stories from the Celtics’ training facility have become legendary. His teammates joke that Pritchard “lives in the gym.” He’s the first in, the last out, and the only one who requests extra film sessions with the coaching staff. One assistant coach recalls walking in on Pritchard shooting 3-pointers after a late-night loss, muttering, “I’m not leaving until I hit 100 in a row.”
But it’s not just about work ethic. Pritchard’s mentality for the game is undoubtedly elite. He studies defenders, learns their tendencies, and attacks their weaknesses. “He’s a basketball expert,” says Celtics star Jayson Tatum. “He sees plays before they happen.”
The numbers don’t lie
Let’s talk numbers, because Pritchard’s stats are impressive. In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds off the bench, shooting an impressive 42.3% from three-point range. He led all NBA reserves in three-pointers made and, at the end of the season, set the all-time record for three-pointers off the bench.
But what’s truly surprising is Pritchard’s efficiency. He joins a select group of players—think Steve Kerr, Kyle Korver, and Stephen Curry—who have shot 40% or better from three-point range over the past five years. And he did it while shooting with great intensity, both against second units and starters.
The playoff heroics that changed everything
If there was one moment that defined Pritchard’s rise, it was during the 2024 NBA Finals. With the Celtics’ starting back line in foul trouble, coach Joe Mazzulla turned to Pritchard in Game 4. What happened next instantly became Celtics history.
Pritchard sank five three-pointers in the third quarter, sparking a comeback that swung the series—and ultimately the championship—in Boston’s favor. His fearless shooting, combined with relentless defense and unselfish passing, earned him the nickname “The Oregon Outlaw” among Celtics fans.
“He saved our season,” Jaylen Brown said. “He wasn’t afraid of the moment. He never is.”
The race for Sixth Man of the Year: a shocking upset
Heading into the 2025 season, sportsbooks considered Pritchard a long shot to win Sixth Man of the Year. The favorites? Big names like Tyler Herro, Malcolm Brogdon, and Immanuel Quickley. But as the season progressed, it became clear: Pritchard was in a league of his own.
His impact was undeniable. The Celtics’ bench, once a weakness, became a weapon. Pritchard’s ability to change the course of games with his shots and plays turned Boston into a powerhouse. When the award was announced, there was no controversy, only respect.
Critics and skeptics
Of course, not everyone has believed in him. Pritchard’s size (5’11”) and lack of elite athleticism have always been a target of criticism. “He’s too small to defend,” they said. “He’ll be exposed in the playoffs.” Time and again, however, Pritchard has proven them wrong, using anticipation, quick hands, and a high basketball IQ to defend.
And then there’s the “system player” argument. Some say Pritchard is a product of Boston’s ball movement and spacing. But league scouts quietly admit he would shine anywhere. “He’s not just a shooter,” said one Western Conference executive. “He can run a team, make plays, and never quits.”
The shocking story off the court
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Pritchard’s story is his humility. Despite his growing fame, he still drives the same car he bought as a rookie. He’s known for spending hours signing autographs for kids after games. And in the summer of 2024, he quietly donated $100,000 to refurbish the basketball courts in his hometown of West Linn, Oregon. No press releases, no cameras, just a handwritten note: “Pay it forward for the greater good.”
What’s next? The question of legacy
Five years into his NBA career, Payton Pritchard has already achieved more than most players dream of. But the shocking reality is that he’s just getting started. With a championship ring, a Sixth Man Award, and a place in the record books, the question now is: How far can he go?
His teammates say Pritchard is hungrier than ever. “He wants to be the best,” says Derrick White. “He’s not satisfied.”
Some experts whisper that Pritchard could become a starting point guard, or even an All-Star. Others say his destiny is to become the NBA’s best sixth man, a modern-day Manu Ginóbili with a more accurate three-point shot.
The Last Word: A New NBA Archetype
In a league obsessed with potential, Payton Pritchard is a reminder that greatness is built, not born. He’s the underdog who exceeded lottery expectations, the sharpshooter who rewrote the record books, the sixth man who became a champion.
As Charles Barkley said, “It makes you happy to see guys win awards like that.” But for Celtics fans, and anyone who enjoys a good underdog story, Pritchard’s rise is more than just an optimistic headline. It’s the shock of the season, the shock of the decade, and proof that, in the NBA, heart still matters most.
