One year ago, Payton Pritchard was unhappy with his playing time and wanted to be traded from the Celtics to a team that could offer him more time on the court.
The reasoning behind it was admirable and he earned more respect from the Celtics fans and the organization in the process. The team then responded by re-signing Pritchard to a four-year, $30 million contract extension.
Pritchard eventually shared to the media that he is committed to helping this team win a championship and hang a banner… and that’s exactly what he did.
“I want to help this team any way I can to win a championship and put a banner in. What ever that takes.”
Pritchard is the ultimate gym rat. He pays his friends- who play professionally overseas- in the offseason to train with him and to give him legitimate practice of being defended by high-level players.
Pritchard being fully invested and winning a championship with the Celtics put him in an elite class of players from Oregon to win NBA championships- including a Celtics legend.
He’s now the fifth player to do it:
- Jim Loscutoff, Boston: 1957, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64)
- Greg Ballard, Washington: 1978
- Jordan Bell, Golden State: 2018
- Chris Boucher, Toronto: 2019
- Payton Pritchard, Boston: 2024
Pritchard is the second player in Celtics history to win a championship as an Oregon alumni, but he’s likely the first one to waive an Oregon flag at the championship parade.
Pritchard is forever a legend in Boston, as Jaylen Brown said after the Finals.
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Photo Credit: Justin Trombino, Celtics Files
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