Celtics and Payton Pritchard Reach Exciting 4-Year, $30M Extension Deal

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has agreed to a lucrative contract extension worth $30 million over four years, according to his agents Austin Brown, Max Saidman, and Mitch Nathan of CAA Sports. This exciting news was revealed to ESPN on Sunday, giving fans something to celebrate.

The fully guaranteed deal signifies the Celtics’ belief in Pritchard’s potential and anticipated contribution off the bench this season. His role is expected to grow significantly within the team, allowing him to showcase his talents and make a solid impact on the court.

Pritchard now joins the ranks of the elite as the seventh player from the 2020 draft class to secure a rookie-scale contract extension. Fellow players who have also achieved this milestone include Anthony Edwards from the Minnesota Timberwolves, LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets, Tyrese Haliburton from the Indiana Pacers, Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons, Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies, and Devin Vassell from the San Antonio Spurs.

Time is of the essence, as the deadline for signing an extension is rapidly approaching on October 23.

Last season, Pritchard’s playing time hit a career low at just 13.4 minutes per game. However, this upcoming season, the 25-year-old guard is expected to regain his footing and see an increase in minutes. Since being drafted as the 26th pick in 2020 out of Oregon, Pritchard has steadily improved, averaging 14 and 19 minutes respectively in his first two NBA seasons.

Pritchard’s shooting prowess is also noteworthy, with an impressive 42.6% success rate on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers since entering the NBA. This places him in the top 15 among players with 300-plus attempts during that time frame, as recorded by Second Spectrum. In fact, during the final game of the 2022-2023 regular season, Pritchard showcased his skills by making and assisting on 17 3-pointers. This achievement tied him for the most 3-pointers in a single NBA game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Furthermore, Pritchard has entered the history books alongside James Harden as the only players in NBA history to achieve a triple-double and knock down nine 3-pointers in a single game, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. In that memorable final game of last regular season, Pritchard achieved an impressive stat line of 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists.