Best NBA Rookies so far: Payton Pritchard’s confidence
At just 6-foot-2 with a 6-foot-4.5 wingspan, Payton Pritchard does not have the frame to immediately intimidate in the NBA. Even with a laundry list of accolades from his decorated four-year career with the Oregon Ducks —2020 PAC-12 Player of the Year, Lute Olson Award Winner, Bob Cousy Award Winner — Pritchard slid down draft boards but was still taken inside the first round with the 26th overall pick by the Boston Celtics.
Having stayed all four years at Oregon, Pritchard was viewed as a low-ceiling player by most NBA Draft talent evaluators.
Similar to other players on this list, circumstance has given him a greater opportunity than he otherwise may have had, with the Celtics missing Kemba Walker to start the season.
In his limited minutes thus far, Pritchard has wielded a confident and calm defensive effort that puts him already in the top tier of perimeter defenders among guards his size.
While his role is one of deferment, primarily impacting the game through assists rather than buckets, Pritchard knows his role and takes it on with confidence. With two early MVP candidates in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Pritchard has leaned on them, using his vision and deferment to set them up for great looks.
Per 36 minutes, he’s racking up the third-most assists on the Celtics (4.9) and is fourth in assist points created (7.4 per game) despite playing over 10 minutes fewer than the three players ahead oof him per game.
While his passing is his bread and butter, Pritchard can read defensive lapses and speed up, getting to the rim when the opportunity presents itself. Underrated and overlooked, Pritchard could have easily come in with a lack of confidence too his young NBA career. Instead, he’s coming with strength, boldness, and confidence in his pass-first role.