Payton Pritchard did not win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2024-25 season with his defense. But the University of Oregon native is aware that he still needs to get better on that side of the ball if he wants to become a bona fide starter in this league.
Pritchard spoke with the media after a camp practice this weekend, and his growth as a defensive player came up in the scrum. Specifically, what it has been like working on improving his defensive game for the season ahead, when Boston will lean on him harder than ever to be a positive defender. “I mean, it’s just competing at a really high level, especially in practice,” he explained. “I feel like for every person … defensively, you can impact the game in different ways.”
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“So, how do you best impact the game?” the West Linn native asked. “You know, for me, it’s not going to be by like blocking shots necessarily and all that, but it can be from hands being active, stealing a pass, stuff like that.”
Sep 29, 2025; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) is interviewed on media day at the Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
As to what that will look like for him, Pritchard replied that “it’s being more aggressive defensively, picking up more. I did it at times, but it’s more of a full-team effort to emphasize ball pressure, picking up full court, picking up the pace more.”
Sporting a scratch on his neck, Pritchard has embraced a new physicality with Boston. “It’s definitely been a war out there. I’m tired, but it’s good to push the body to these limits to get ready for the season.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Payton Pritchard on how he works on his defense with the Celtics
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