The sky’s the limit for Payton Pritchard, according to Marcus Smart

The Flower Mound native sees a little of himself in the rookie out of Oregon.

The comparisons have already begun between rookie point guard Payton Pritchard and veteran floor general Marcus Smart — including some coming from the man himself. That makes sense given both are scrappy, disruptive guards with ultra-high motors drafted by Danny Ainge, who was also cut from that mold in his playing days.

The four-year Oregon product was drafted 26th overall by the Celtics in the 2020 draft, with Ainge suggesting both he and fellow 2020 draftee Aaron Nesmith would be expected to contribute immediately. In their preseason debut vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Pritchard in particular looked up for the job, with the Vanderbilt product not far behind.

Speaking with the media on Friday ahead of the team’s second and final preseason game versus the Brooklyn Nets, Smart suggested that the former Duck’s potential merely depends on the work Pritchard puts in.

“The sky’s the limit for that kid,” Smart said. “Especially at the size that he is and the way that he plays. That’s what really impressed me — he’s not not a bigger guard like I am but he’s able to get out there, and he’s scrappy, and he fights and he knows how to play.”

While Pritchard has a long way to go before he catches up to his established backcourt teammate, he’s already shown he’s not afraid of the moment, and looks playable at minimum at the NBA level.

With more games behind him at the NBA level, we’ll have a much better idea of what sort of player Pritchard will be at the next level, and he’ll have plenty of opportunity while starting point guard Kemba Walker is out getting his knee right for the coming season.

We should temper our expectations for his inaugural campaign in the league, but his attitude and relentless motor have already caught his teammates attention — and the rest of the league may not be far behind.

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