Jayson Tatum, the six-time All-Star and Boston Celtics power forward, is all praises for his teammate, Payton Pritchard. If given the chance, Tatum would undoubtedly cast his vote for Pritchard as the Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
Pritchard, a reserve guard for Boston Celtics, has been in stellar form, contributing significantly to the team’s four consecutive victories. His shooting prowess was on full display when he made 8 out of 15 long-range shots, marking the third time in his career that he achieved eight or more triple attempts.
In a post-game interview with TNT’s Allie LaForce, Tatum lauded Pritchard’s performance and endorsed him for the prestigious Sixth Man of the Year honor. Tatum relayed, “He’s unbelievable, what he brings to this team on a given night, especially off the bench. We’ve got a few weeks left, but he’s got to be Sixth Man of the Year.”
Tatum himself had a solid game, contributing a 15-point triple-double, which included 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Fellow All-Star Celtics small forward, Jaylen Brown, also made his presence felt, tallying 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and making a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line. Brown also contributed six assists and six rebounds.
Al Horford, the former five-time All-Star, and another potential candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award, scored 11 points and pulled down four rebounds. Derrick White, an All-Defensive Second Team guard, and starting center Kristaps Porzingis also made valuable contributions, putting up double-digit scores.
This winning streak has bolstered the Celtics’ season record to 40-16 as they strive to defend their 2024 title. As the leading scorer off the bench for a top contender, Pritchard has gained significant attention across the NBA, with a promising chance of securing end-of-year accolades.
However, the road to the Sixth Man of the Year award is not unchallenged. Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter, Detroit Pistons swingman Malik Beasley, and reigning champion, Minnesota Timberwolves center/power forward Naz Reid, are among the other top contenders.
Nevertheless, Pritchard stands out among his peers. Over 55 games, the 27-year-old has averaged a career-high 14.1 points on .471/.415/.836 shooting splits, along with 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
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