Payton Pritchard Bio
Payton Michael Pritchard (born January 28, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A former standout at the University of Oregon, he was selected 26th overall by the Celtics in the 2020 NBA draft. Pritchard reached the NBA Finals with Boston in both 2022 and 2024, winning his first championship in 2024, and was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
Known for his deep shooting range, steady playmaking, and confident demeanor, Pritchard has become one of the league’s most reliable reserve guards. His combination of on-court production and longevity with a single franchise has made him a fixture of the Celtics’ recent success.
Early Life and Background
Payton Michael Pritchard was born on January 28, 1998, in Tualatin, Oregon, USA. He grew up in the Portland suburbs and attended West Linn High School, where he became one of the most decorated players in Oregon high school basketball history. Pritchard won four consecutive state championships with West Linn, establishing himself as a winner from an early stage of his career.
As a junior in 2014–15, Pritchard averaged 22 points and 5.8 assists per game, and he raised those numbers to 23.6 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.1 steals as a senior in 2015–16. He earned the 2014 and 2015 Todd Pratt Player of the Year honors, was named Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year, and was recognized as the 2015 Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year. Rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Pritchard had originally committed to Oklahoma, where his father Terry played football, before flipping his commitment to the University of Oregon in August 2015.
Path to Basketball
Pritchard’s rise through the grassroots and high school ranks gave him a foundation built on winning and competitive scoring. He represented the United States at the 2015 FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Championship, where he hit nine three-pointers in a single game against Poland. The following spring, he played for the USA National Select Team at the 2016 Nike Hoop Summit, scoring 12 points on four three-pointers in 14 minutes.
He continued his international development at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup in Egypt, averaging 9.0 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds while helping Team USA to a bronze medal. Pritchard was named to the All-Star Five of the tournament and scored 16 points against Canada and RJ Barrett. These experiences helped shape his transition to college basketball at the University of Oregon.
Payton Pritchard Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
As a freshman at Oregon in 2016–17, Pritchard made 39 appearances for the Ducks and averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 assists per game. He started as a freshman on a Final Four team and famously assisted Dillon Brooks on a game-winning three-pointer over Lonzo Ball against UCLA. Pritchard became a lone returning starter as a sophomore in 2017–18, raising his averages to 14.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, and earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors.
As a junior in 2018–19, Pritchard led Oregon to an improbable Pac-12 Tournament Championship, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He briefly declared for the 2019 NBA draft before returning for his senior season. In 2019–20, Pritchard emerged as one of the best players in college basketball, averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. He was named Pac-12 Player of the Year, a consensus first-team All-American, and won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation’s top point guard.
NBA Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Selected 26th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2020 NBA draft, Pritchard signed a four-year, $10.5 million rookie contract on November 24, 2020. He impressed in his preseason debut with 17 points against the Philadelphia 76ers and quickly carved out a rotation role alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart. On January 4, 2021, Pritchard scored a career-high 23 points with eight assists against the Toronto Raptors, and two days later he buried the game-winning layup in a 107–105 victory over the Miami Heat. He earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2020–21 season recognition and was named to the NBA All-Summer League First Team in 2021 after averaging 17 points and eight assists in Las Vegas.
Pritchard helped the Celtics reach the 2022 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games. His minutes fluctuated over the following seasons, and in the regular-season finale he produced his first career triple-double with 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists in a victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Following Boston’s exit from the Eastern Conference Finals, Pritchard requested a trade as he sought a larger role.
Boston Celtics Era (2023–Present)
On October 8, 2023, Pritchard and the Celtics agreed to a fully guaranteed four-year, $30 million contract extension. He responded to the new deal with increased playing time, averaging 22.3 minutes per game during the 2023–24 season, and was the only Boston player to appear in all 82 regular-season contests. He scored a career-high 32 points with 11 assists against the Charlotte Hornets on April 12, 2024, and followed that with 38 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds against the Washington Wizards two days later. Pritchard joined John Havlicek, Larry Bird, and Bob Cousy as the only Celtics players to record back-to-back 30-point, 10-assist double-doubles.
During the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Pritchard made a 34-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter of Game 2, and in Game 5 he sank a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer to help close out Boston’s championship-clinching victory. According to the NBA, the half-court make was the longest basket in an NBA Finals game since 1997. His deep shooting, ball-handling, and competitive confidence gave Boston a dependable secondary creator alongside Tatum and Brown.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pritchard is best known for his deep shooting range, with the ability to pull up well beyond the three-point line. His basketball IQ, pace control, and pick-and-roll decision-making allow him to stabilize an offense in any lineup configuration. Defensively, he competes with discipline and uses anticipation to generate steals, while his size at the guard position lets him hold up against larger opponents. Pritchard’s connection with the Celtics’ coaching staff and his willingness to embrace a bench role have been central to his steady rise.
Notable Events and Milestones
Pritchard set an NBA record on March 15, 2025, when he made his 219th three-pointer of the season off the bench, surpassing the previous mark for reserve-made three-pointers in a single year. On March 5, 2025, he and Derrick White became the first Celtics teammates to each score at least 40 points in the same game, with Pritchard finishing with 43 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists against the Portland Trail Blazers. On April 4, 2025, Pritchard’s three-pointer against the Phoenix Suns gave the 2024–25 Celtics the NBA record for most three-pointers by a team in a season.
Payton Pritchard Career Wins
Payton Pritchard’s career wins span a high school dynasty, four years of NCAA tournament success, and three NBA Finals trips with the Boston Celtics. He won one NBA championship in 2024, captured two Pac-12 regular-season titles with Oregon, and lifted four consecutive Oregon high school state championships at West Linn.
NBA Highlights
Pritchard helped the Celtics reach the NBA Finals in 2022 and again in 2024, when Boston defeated the Dallas Mavericks to capture the franchise’s 18th championship. He earned his first NBA championship ring during that 2024 Finals run, highlighted by clutch late-quarter baskets in Games 2 and 5. In 2025, Pritchard was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year, receiving 82 of 100 first-place votes and appearing on every ballot.
Other Wins & Performances
At the international level, Pritchard helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup in Egypt and was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five. He was also recognized as the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars MVP during NBA All-Star Weekend. In college, Pritchard won the Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player award in 2019 and was a finalist for the Naismith College Player of the Year as a senior.
Payton Pritchard Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Pritchard’s father, Terry Pritchard, played football at the University of Oklahoma, which influenced Payton’s early recruitment before he ultimately chose the University of Oregon. His family ties to Oregon athletics helped shape his decision to commit to the Ducks in 2015. Pritchard has spoken often about the role his family played in his development as a competitor.
Payton Pritchard married his girlfriend, YouTuber Emma MacDonald, in August 2024. The ceremony was officiated by his former Boston Celtics teammate Blake Griffin, underscoring the close relationships Pritchard has built within the organization. The couple’s wedding took place during the offseason following Boston’s 2024 NBA championship run.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NBA season marked Payton Pritchard’s most productive year as a professional. Working primarily as the Celtics’ lead reserve guard, he set multiple franchise and league records from beyond the arc while serving as one of the team’s most consistent secondary creators. His chemistry with Derrick White and the rest of Boston’s perimeter group gave the Celtics a steady offensive engine in non-starting lineups.
Pritchard’s late-season surge included back-to-back 40-point performances and a stretch of high-volume three-point shooting that rewrote the NBA record book for bench-made threes. He closed the regular season with 34 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists in a victory over the Charlotte Hornets, cementing his case for individual postseason awards. On April 20, 2025, he scored 19 points in 25 minutes off the bench in Game 1 of the first round against the Orlando Magic, the same day he was announced as a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year.
Two days later, Pritchard was named the 2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, earning 82 of 100 first-place votes and the only unanimous listing on every ballot. He also received consideration for Most Improved Player, collecting one second-place and three third-place votes. With his contract extension running through 2026, Pritchard remains a central piece of Boston’s championship core heading into the 2025 NBA Finals.