Tag: Payton Pritchard

If you think Payton Pritchard’s dribbling drill is intense, you should see Pete Maravich’s

Fast PP may have an intense way to practice his handle, but he’s got nothing on Pistol Pete.

If you squint very hard, you can see the template for a player such as Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard in Hall of Fame sharpshooter “Pistol” Pete Maravich — and not just because of their shooting. The taller Maravich was also a fanatic about dribble practice drills, and while Fast PP’s certainly looks intense, the worst thing that happened was that his hands might get bloody from all the callouses he’d develop.

Maravich, on the other hand, took his drills to a whole other level that even made legendary Celtics general manager Red Auerbach nervous watching them for their disaster potential to one’s nether regions.

Take a look at the short embedded below to get a glimpse of Maravich’s infamous dribble drill, courtesy of the NBA’s YouTube channel.

We don’t know about you, but we don’t personally have any plans to try out Pistol Pete’s drill ourselves any time soon.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Can Payton Pritchard take his game to another level next season?

Can the Boston Celtics guard elevate his game ahead of the new NBA season?

Payton Pritchard established himself as one of the best back-up point guards in the NBA last season. His ability to hit timely shots on the perimeter, secure offensive rebounds and hold his own on the defensive end will ensure he remains an important piece of Joe Mazzulla’s Boston Celtics roster heading into the 2024-25 NBA season.

Pritchard recently discussed his goals for the upcoming season during an appearance on the Point Forward podcast with Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala. He noted how he’s aiming to improve his overall game and become even more impactful when on the court.

As such, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance discussed what improvements we could see from Pritchard next season during a recent episode of the “How ‘Bout Them Celtics?” podcast. They explored his role under Joe Mazzulla and potential areas for him to improve to further establish himself as part of the championship rotation.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Before the Boston Celtics, Payton Pritchard was a knockdown shot

The West Linn native has been an elite shooter and passer as far back as his time with West Linn High School – see for yourself in this clip!

For most fans of the Boston Celtics, our knowledge of combo guard Payton Pritchard began when then-President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge picked the Oregon standout at No. 26 in the 2020 NBA draft.

But the West Linn native did not become adept at his craft overnight. He was an elite shooter and passer as far back as his time with West Linn High School. There, Pritchard earned 2014 and 2015 Todd Pratt Player of the Year, Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year and 2015 Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year awards.

A knockdown shooter with elite court vision at that level, Fast PP (as he is sometimes called) likely caught the Celtics’ scouts’ eye that far back in his career. Especially Ainge’s, given he, too, is an Oregonian point guard a little short in stature (if not moxie).

Check out the clip of the Celtics’ long-range assassin going ham on opponents in high school to see how long it’s been since Pritchard was a threat on the hardwood for yourself.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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Former Boston Celtics big man Blake Griffin officiates Payton Pritchard’s wedding

Several former members of the team who have since found new homes or retired from the game were there as well.

You might think that reserve Boston Celtics combo guard Payton Pritchard would be taking it easy after helping his team hang an NBA-record 18th banner this summer. But the Oregon native has been doing the opposite, squeezing in runs before getting hitched with much of the Banner 18 squad in attendance this week.

And it is not just this year’s Celtics alumni who showed up. Several former members of the team who have since found new homes or retired from the game were there as well. At the top of the former list is former Boston big man Blake Griffin, who added a humorous inflection to PP’s big day as he officiated the wedding. 

“At no point tonight am I allowed to do my impersonation of Payton,” said Griffin to more than a few chuckles in a video posted by star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown to social media.

Congrats to Pritchard and his new wife, Instagram influencer Emma MacDonald.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Who is the Boston Celtics best-kept secret for 2024-25?

If we are being entirely honest, said player is not all that much of a secret.

Who is the Boston Celtics best-kept secret to deploy on the court for the coming 2024-25 NBA season? If you happen to ask Bleacher Report league analyst Grant Hughes, he has one in mind for the Celtics. Though, if we are being entirely honest about his choice for Boston, said player is not all that much of a secret.

Still, when you are combing through the roster ran back from the team that won the 2024 title, it can be hard to find a player (in this case, he has selected reserve guard Payton Pritchard) who has both done something meaningful for the ball club and also being a “best-kept secret.”

“There are no true secrets on a … Celtics roster that remains mostly unchanged after everyone in the world watched it cut opponents to ribbons en route to the 2024 championship,” echoes Hughes. “Pritchard is the best we can do without forcing things, and he’s a useful player to feature this early because he’s an example of a specific kind of ‘best-kept secret.'”

“The four-year veteran guard is more anonymous than he should be because the team around him is so dominant,” he adds. “Across the last four seasons, Pritchard is one of just six players to appear in at least 200 games, shoot over 39.0% from deep and post per-36 averages of at least 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists. (…)”

“That makes a pretty good case that a) Pritchard deserves more recognition than he gets, and b) he’d be just fine in a much larger role than he has with Boston.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Payton Pritchard defends Jaylen Brown’s reaction to Team USA snub

The Boston Celtics guard defended his teammates reaction to missing out on Team USA.

Jaylen Brown has endured a difficult summer. The Boston Celtics star was omitted from Team USA’s roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was then overlooked as the replacement for Kawhi Leonard, with Derrick White receiving a call-up instead. Brown was critical of the decision, taking to social media to share his thoughts. Stephen A. Smith also accused him of being “unmarketable.” Smith during the postseason.

In a recent appearance on the “Point Forward” podcast, Celtics guard Payton Pritchard defended Brown’s reaction, while also noting how the Celtics All-Star fits within Steve Kerr’s Team USA roster.

“I know certain people are like it’s undercutting his teammate, but I was kind of like hey man, let him speak his peiece,” Pritchard said regarding Brown’s Team USA drama. “I think, yeah, let him speak. I don’t think Derrick felt any type of way at all. I think we’re all brothers at the end of the day. When I saw it, not even having the consideration of putting him on was confusing to me. I think Jaylen is a top-level player. He fits everything they need. He can defend, play any role, and I think Jaylen would accept that.”

While there’s a fair debate on whether Brown should have handled the situation differently, there’s no denying that he could have been an important member of Team USA’s roster, regardless of what role he would have been tasked with playing.

Nevertheless, Brown will undoubtedly have spent his summer working on his game and improving his all-round skill set as he looks to help Boston challenge for back-to-back championships next season.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

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Payton Pritchard on the Boston Celtics potentially repeating as champs

Evidently, not only is there no rest for the wicked, but also for the team that wears the crown in this league.

While some people might take the entire summer off after winning an NBA title, not only is Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard playing on deep into the 2024 NBA offseason suiting up for the US Select Team, the Oregon native is already thinking about trying to repeat as champs. Evidently, not only is there no rest for the wicked, but also for the team that wears the crown in this league.

“Hopefully, we can win it again,” said Pritchard in a recent interview with the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “We haven’t really talked about it yet, but that doesn’t need to be talked about. It’s already what we want.”

“We’ve got to have an appreciation for what we just did and understand it’s really hard, and look at it like we accomplished something great,” he explained. “But then we’ve got to do it again.”

With virtually the entire team that won the 2024 NBA title back under contract with the exceptions of Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett, if there is a team capable of running it back to hang another banner, it’s Boston.

Whether they will or not doesn’t just depend on Pritchard, his teammates, or even the organization writ large, however. Other moves around the league, injuries, and luck will play a role. But the Celtics like their chances.

And they should.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics Jrue Holiday and Payton Pritchard balling out with Team USA

Pritchard and Holiday have been duking it out on “opposing” ball clubs as Team USA prepares to go for the gold in Paris.

The Boston Celtics may not be playing any actual games any time soon, but several members of the 2024 title team have been playing some high-level basketball in anticipation of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday set to play for US National Team and reserve Boston floor general Payton Pritchard doing the same for the US Select Team, Pritchard and Holiday have been duking it out on “opposing” ball clubs as Team USA prepares to go for the gold in Paris. The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast, Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance, took a closer look at the scrimmages on a recent episode of their show.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Oregon Ducks star Jackson Shelstad scores 71 points at Portland Pro-Am

Oregon Ducks basketball star Jackson Shelstad dropped 71 points at the Portland Pro-Am game over the weekend.

It’s getting harder and harder to differentiate Jackson Shelstad from Payton Pritchard. 

The two Oregon Ducks grew up in the same town in Portland, and they both went to West Linn High School, winning state championships. Both decided to stay home at attend the University of Oregon, going on to have high-impact freshmen seasons.

Of course, Pritchard has continued his career on to the NBA, where he recently won his first championship with the Boston Celtics last month. Meanwhile, Shelstad is poised for what looks like a big-time sophomore campaign in Eugene.

There’s one other similarity between the two that was just uncovered on Saturday — the ability to dominate the Portland Pro-Am basketball game.

Shelstad reportedly scored 71 points in the Pro-Am this weekend. If you’ll remember back in 2021, Pritchard made headlines after reportedly scoring 92 points in the same Pro-Am game.

The upbringing was similar, the play style is similar, and now some of the accomplishments are looking similar as well.

Does this mean that Shelstad has an NBA championship in his future? We can only hope.

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Payton Pritchard on USA Olympic workout practice squad

Payton Pritchard is one of 15 players that is on the USA Olympic workout practice squad to help prep the Olympic team for the Paris Games.

It’s not the US Olympic team, but it may be the next best thing.

Former Oregon Duck guard Payton Pritchard, freshly coming off winning the NBA title with the Boston Celtics, will be on the squad that will work out the Olympic team in preparation for the Games in Paris later this summer.

The prep team consists of 15 players who play either in the NBA or in the NBA G-League.

As for Pritchard, he had his best season with the Celtics in his fourth year. He averaging nearly 10 points a game, 2.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds coming off the bench for the World Champs.

Pritchard and his 14 other teammates will work out the US Olympic team July 6-8 in Las Vegas.

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