Payton Pritchard’s inspiring social media message after inking $44 million contract appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics made the decision lock up one of their top players for the foreseeable future with an agreement on a two-year contract extension for Payton Pritchard. The seven-year veteran has played his entire career with the Celtics, and he is in line for a regular starting role.
Following the agreement with the Celtics on a contract extension, Payton Pritchard took to social media to express his quick thoughts on his career to this point, as per Zack Cox of The Boston Herald.
“Imagine if I listed to the people who said I couldn’t,” Pritchard posted on social media as the caption alongside a picture of himself.
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The No. 26 overall pick by the Celtics in the 2020 NBA Draft, Pritchard faced questions about his size coming into the league. But he’s proven all doubters wrong as he has developed into one of the best backup point guards in the NBA. In 2024-25, he won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award.
This past season, Pritchard appeared in 79 games, with 50 starts, at a little over 32 minutes per game. He averaged a career-high 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists with splits of 46.4 percent shooting from the field, 37.7 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 89 percent shooting from the free-throw line. His rebounds and assists were also career bests.
The former Oregon star did not play in the Celtics’ preseason opener, but came off the bench in the team’s second preseason game. He finished with a game-high 25 points in 24 minutes in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
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