Payton Pritchard using last season to fuel his current run

Jan 30, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) warms up before playing the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Payton Pritchard has been one of the Boston Celtics standout performers over the past few months. The fourth-year guard has begun to thrive as the first guard off the Celtics bench. He has improved his scoring ability around the rim by adding bump-offs and “Nash” dribbles into his game, opening up more touches and a bigger role for himself.

On Friday (April 12), Pritchard scored a career-high 31 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He also dished out 11 assists and grabbed five rebounds. When speaking the media following his impressive performance, he admitted that his journey to this point, where he has played in every game for the Celtics this season, has helped fuel his growth as a player.

“It’s definitely a big accomplishment for me,” Pritchard said via the AP. “To play 82 games is tough, but through the summer, the work that I put in to get my body ready for that (helped). But also just the journey of me, last year, my second year, of times when I didn’t play at all, how frustrating that is and how much that hurt at times. But that just fueled me to keep working.”

Pritchard has earned his role within Joe Mazzulla’s playoff rotation. He’s proven he can hold his own on the defensive end and that he doesn’t shy away when attacking the paint against high-level NBA defenders. He will likely have some big moments during the Celtics upcoming run.

Payton Pritchard gets his flowers after scoring career-high 31 in Boston's 131-98 blowout of the Hornets https://t.co/rgCE5lb5fd pic.twitter.com/YR8EvkTAxf

— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 13, 2024

Last season, Pritchard struggled to see the floor as he was behind Sixth Man of the Year winner Malcolm Brogdon in the rotation. He’s now proven that he has the talent to challenge for that award at some point in his career. For now, though, he will likely focus on the playoffs.

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Payton Pritchard using last season to fuel his current run