Celtics reserve named NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard is the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Pritchard averaged a career-high 14.3 points for the Celtics, led the NBA in points off the bench with 1,079 in 80 games and set an NBA single-season record for most 3-pointers off the bench with 246. He was third among reserves in assists (257) and had the league’s best plus-minus of any reserve at plus-428.

Pritchard shot a career-high 47.2% from the field and made 40% of his 3-point attempts for the third time in six seasons with the Celtics, who had one of the league’s top benches. Hs 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists 28.4 minutes per game were also career highs.

“Payton is one of the most dedicated players I’ve ever been around,” Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a news release. “He truly loves the game and is committed to the work that goes into being great. In addition, he’s driven by winning and doing whatever it takes to help the team.’

He had two games with at least 30 points this season, including a career-high 43 points against Portland on March 5. He 24 games with at least 20 points and 22 games with at least five made 3s, including 10 against the Trail Blazers making him the eighth NBA reserve to make 10 or more 3s in a game.

Pritchard, a first-time winner of the trophy named after Celtics great John Havlicek, received 82 of 100 first-place votes, 13 second-place votes and five third-place votes and finished with 454 points ahead of Detroit’s Malik Beasley (279 points) and Cleveland’s Ty Jerome (81 points).

‘Payton is a baller – and his teammates know what they are getting every single day in terms of effort, care, and commitment,’ Stevens said. ‘For him to be honored with the award named after the great John Havlicek is a credit to all that he brings to the table for our team.’

The 6-1 guard has turned into a valuable contributor and played a significant role in Boston’s championship last season.

Boston leads the Orlando Magic 1-0 in their first-round playoff series, and Pritchard scored 19 points and was 4-for-6 on 3s in the series opener. Game 2 is Wednesday in Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT).

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