Payton Pritchard Shines as Celtics’ Assists Leader Early in Season

BOSTON, MA – Payton Pritchard has quickly emerged as a key playmaker for the Boston Celtics in the early days of the NBA season. After a tough season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, where he missed two late-game attempts to win, Pritchard shifted his focus to facilitating the offense.

In that opening game on October 30, 2025, Pritchard finished with only two assists and as many turnovers. However, he has rebounded spectacularly, averaging 7 assists per game in the four games since, with just one turnover in each.

In a recent matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Pritchard recorded the 11th double-double of his career, tallying 10 assists despite shooting just 4-of-13 from the field. This performance helped lead the Celtics to a surprising victory over a team expected to dominate the Eastern Conference.

“Probably just made the wrong read. Anfernee and Sam were open on the backside, so just a pass I gotta make,” Pritchard reflected after the opening loss. His recent play shows he has taken that lesson to heart.

Pritchard is adapting to a new role this season as he steps into the starting lineup, increasing his responsibility to manage the game’s pace. While last season as the Sixth Man of the Year, he had the freedom to take shots, this year he is expected to integrate more with the starters.

The Celtics are facing challenges with injuries, particularly the absence of star player Jayson Tatum, which has magnified the importance of Pritchard’s playmaking. He currently leads the team with an average of 6 assists per game, significantly up from last year.

With the Celtics holding the 9th best offensive rating in the league at 118.2, Pritchard’s ability to facilitate could prove vital as the season progresses. His improved playmaking allows for better ball movement, which is crucial to maintaining offensive efficiency amid the team’s injuries.