Payton Pritchard named NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year on heels of Game 1 outburst

Payton Pritchard is the winner of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award, the league announced Tuesday evening. The Boston Celtics guard beat out other top candidates, Malik Beasley and Ty Jerome, for the honor.

Pritchard logged career highs pretty much across the board, aside from three-point percentage. In 80 appearances for the Cs, the 27-year-old averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.7% from beyond the arc.

He is the second Celtic in the past three seasons to take home the NBA’s John Havlicek Trophy, joining Malcolm Brogdon, who won it in 2023. Ironically, Pritchard wanted to be traded from Boston while buried on the bench behind Brogdon. Instead, it was Brogdon who was dealt, and Pritchard took full advantage of the opportunity.

In his second season with an extended role, Pritchard quickly became a favorite for Sixth Man of the Year. His 28-point outing in an October 28th matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks was an eye-opener for many. He was so good that he nearly broke Doc Rivers in the process.

That performance ignited a season-long hot streak that’s still going strong to this day. Pritchard’s impressive outburst in Sunday’s Game 1 against the Orlando Magic was the perfect cherry-on-top leading up to this award selection.

Fast PP was exactly that — fast.

He checked into the game with 1:50 left in the first quarter and then proceeded the score 11 of the next 13 points for the Celtics, including this sick step-through against Cole Anthony.

Pritchard finished the day with 19 points on an efficient 6-of-8 from the field in just 24 minutes. It was just about as close to a perfect sixth man performance as you can get, a near perfect encapsulation of the season he has had.

He is now the fourth Celtic to win the award, joining Brogdon, Bill Walton, and Kevin McHale (twice). The legend Red Auerbach is largely credited for inventing the sixth man role for Frank Ramsey who played behind Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman.