A former Celtics player believes that a fan favorite could put up MVP numbers

The defending champion Boston Celtics have been as good as expected to start the 2024-25 season, including going 10-3 and having the second-best record in the NBA. Part of their success has been their depth, with them getting increased production from the bench, namely backup shooting guard Payton Pritchard.

Pritchard is in the midst of a career season, partly thanks to him carving out a bigger role. The fourth-year guard is averaging nearly 28 minutes per game this season off the bench, essentially making him their seventh man. Not only that, Pritchard is shooting an outlandish 41.7% from three on nine 3-point attempts per game, en route to him averaging a career-high 15.7 points.

With him thriving in an increased role, the Celtics look deeper but former Celtic and current broadcaster Brian Scalabrine believes that he could put up MVP numbers if he were a starter full-time. All the Smoke podcast, he mentioned that he believes that Pritchard could average 27 points and eight assists per game if he had a bigger role.

Could Payton Pritchard thrive in a bigger role on the Boston Celtics?

Last season, only one player in the NBA averaged at least 27 points and eight assists per game. So, at first glance, Scalabrine's claim about Prichard seems farfetched; then again, per 36 minutes, he's averaging 20.2 points and 3.2 assists per game.

That is obviously not quite what he was predicting but it is still impressive nonetheless. Of course, there's a big difference between scoring against other teams' second units and occasionally playing against starters versus actually going against starters. After all, those lineups often feature better defenders and Pritchard may not be as effective given his lack of size at 6'1.

To his credit, shooting 41.7% from three on nine 3-point attempts isn't a fluke and that type of shooting would potentially translate to another team. That is not to say that the Celtics would move him, especially after his play to start the season, making Scalabrine's point moot, at least for the time being.

Being the leading scorer off the bench for the defending championship isn't a bad role. In fact, he has a good chance of winning Sixth Man of the Year and even another championship. At 27 years old, there is still time for him to show what he can do elsewhere. But, for now, Pritchard is a key member of the Celtics and in a perfect role for him.