Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has recently inked a lucrative four-year, $30 million contract extension with the team, signaling his return to the franchise. Although Pritchard has not consistently received significant playing time since the 2021-22 season, his presence adds valuable depth to the Celtics’ guard positions, especially given the notable transactions the team made this past summer.
Pritchard has now revealed his unique offseason workout routine, demonstrating his commitment to staying in peak physical condition. He disclosed, “I hire some of my friends who play overseas and offer to pay them for a week to come out and defend me. I provide them with accommodation wherever I am, and during those hours, we engage in mini-games to five points. If they achieve a certain number of defensive stops, they win.”
Celtics supporters will likely appreciate Pritchard’s dedicated approach to his offseason training. He has long been recognized for his proficiency as a shooter and ball handler coming off the Boston bench. However, concerns about his size and defensive capabilities limited his playing time during the 2023 playoffs.
Nonetheless, with the team’s offseason trades, which included the departures of Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Smart (with Jrue Holiday being the sole guard acquisition), there may be an opportunity for Pritchard to assume a more substantial role in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
The Celtics are scheduled to commence the new season on October 25 at Madison Square Garden, where they will face the New York Knicks at 7:30 PM ET.
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