Wanting again, Payton Pritchard didn’t like the thought of being drafted and representing the Boston Celtics.
Within the latest episode of The Younger Man and The Three Podcast, Pritchard bluntly confessed that he considered having no probability to play and develop underneath the Celtics upon being drafted by the franchise because the twenty sixth total decide of the 2020 NBA Draft.
“I assumed there was no probability I used to be ever going to play. It’s going to be very arduous to crack this rotation,” he mentioned about becoming a member of the Celtics.
“However issues occur, it’s a protracted journey, and I labored my manner into there.”
Throughout that point, Pritchard was coming off a fruitful four-year collegiate hoop run at Oregon. Because the lead man of the Geese, he powered this system to 2 Pac-12 common season titles and was the nation’s finest level guard upon profitable the Bob Cousy Award throughout his senior season.
Of all of the issues he achieved in school, Pritchard actually has preliminary legitimate causes to be pessimistic about his entry to the Celtics. In his first 12 months for them in 2020-21, Pritchard discovered himself because the fourth-stringer guard as Kemba Walker, Marcus Sensible, and Jeff Teague have been at his entrance inside Boston’s level guard slate.
Apart from, the Celtics are targeted on competing for a championship, eliminating his possibilities to thrive and develop.
As such, he wasn’t even meant to be a Celtic within the first place as he revealed he didn’t even entertain the staff throughout his pre-draft exercises.
“I solely did two particular person exercises that complete time and it was Toronto and Detroit that got here to LA,” he mentioned.
Amid dilemma and doubts, arriving in Boston ended up turning into a blessing in disguise for Pritchard.
Opposite to what he initially thought, Pritchard managed to acquire vital taking part in time and publicity throughout his rookie season for the Celtics. He went on to emerge as an important contributor for the staff and in its competition plans.
Along with his expertise and brilliance, Pritchard managed to attract the long-term dedication of the Celtics, signing a $30 million contract extension for 4 years in 2023. As such, the staff’s belief paid off because the 26-year-old helped them seize their 18th championship a 12 months later.
Pritchard has elevated his sport to new heights this season as he’s averaging 14.8 factors, 3.7 boards, and three.4 assists throughout 37 video games — submitting an early robust candidacy for the Sixth Man of the Yr honors.
Ultimately, Pritchard couldn’t ask for a greater state of affairs as Boston gave him the last word room for development and the most effective spot for his younger profession.
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