Payton Pritchard provides the key reason why he signed a new Celtics contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics had an eventful offseason, as they pulled the trigger on a trade for Jaylen Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a monumental move for the team, as they have committed to a new direction with Jayson Tatum as their sole superstar.
However, they also wanted to keep their supporting cast strong, especially in secondary scoring. They have done so by committing to Payton Pritchard with a brand-new contract extension worth $44.2 million for two years.
Payton Pritchard loves that he gets to stay in Boston with a new contract
Since the Celtics drafted him back in 2020, Pritchard has been a contributor for the Celtics. He was mostly a player off the bench, which was proven by his Sixth Man of the Year award win back in the 2024-25 season.
However, Pritchard has moved over to being a starter. Over the 79 regular season games he played, he started 50 of them. Ahead of the 2026-27 season, it seems that he is the undisputed starter in his position.
MORE: Payton Pritchard speaks about how important Mike Conley will be to him on the Celtics
He finally has the role that he has wanted for years, so it is fair for him to sign that extension. Now, he will be playing as one of the most important players on the team, considering he just averaged 17 points per game in the 2026-27 season.
Pritchard is glad to be playing for the Celtics for the foreseeable future. He loves being in Boston, and it seems that the fans and the organization appreciate him as well.
"I think it's what Boston represents. You go for championships. They hold you to a high standard. The media holds you to a high standard, the organization too, and I appreciate being in an environment like that," Pritchard said after the announcement of his new contract.
Pritchard is now welcoming the pressure even more as one of the key players for an illustrious team. He is ready for the challenge, and it seems that he wants to keep winning with the Celtics.
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