Payton Pritchard Wins The Sixth Man Of The Year And Is Officially The Best Bench Player In The NBA

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LET'S FUCKING GO.

NBA Champion and 6th Man Of The Year Payton Pritchard. That has a nice ring to it, I have to admit. Danny Ainge gave the Boston Celtics a lot during his time in charge, and Payton Pritchard was his final gift. He knew what he was drafting when he brought in Pritchard, and to now be where we are, it really is incredible. 

Payton Pritchard is a tremendous Celtic. Everything that goes into being a Celtic and playing Celtics basketball, Payton Pritchard embodies and then some. He's a legit DAWG. Competitive as hell, a player that legitimately puts in the work and is obsessed with getting better. A player who only gives a shit about improving as a basketball player who has turned himself into not only a key piece of an NBA championship team, but now the 6MOY. To go from wanting to be traded because he never played to this is quite the ride, and honestly, nobody deserves it more. Players who put in the work like Payton Pritchard should be rewarded. He goes about things the right way, is never in trouble, you never hear shit about him in the press, he just works. That is why he is a Champion, and it's why he's the best bench player in the NBA.

When you think of NBA players who have a green light to pretty much shoot whenever they want and take whatever shot they want, that list is usually reserved for All NBA/franchise players. 

In Boston, I'm not sure even Jayson Tatum has a greener light than Payton Pritchard. There is no shot he's not allowed to take. If you don't guard him from 35ft, he will shoot it. If you leave him open in transition, he's taking the early shot clock 3. If you leave him in the corner, that's going up. Really it's like Pritchard and Steph Curry in terms of the caliber of their green light. It's what makes watching him so much fun.

This year though, we learned that NBA Champion Payton Pritchard is now a complete player. He's not just a floor spacer and a shooter, he's about as well rounded of a point guard as you're going to find. He's figured out how to bend defenses, show patience with his drive and create for others. No more picking up his dribble early and panicking. Now he's finishing over people at the rim. Oh, and he also almost never turns the ball over. You're getting 5-7 assists a night with virtually no mistakes.

When I think of Payton Pritchard, I think of a guy who not only embraces his role, but dominates it. A player with supreme confidence because he knows he put in the work. A player you never have to worry about energy, playing hard, or toughness. Pritchard is a self made player, who was ready for his opportunity and then once he got it, never looked back. 

It's awesome that he can now join the other Celtics legends (and Malcolm Brogdon) as a fellow 6MOY. 

Only McHale, Walton, and Pritchard ever won 6MOY and a title. Not a bad group to find yourself in if you ask me.

The good news is that not only is Pritchard having a great season, but he also looked pretty primed to have an even better postseason run as well. LFG.