Payton Pritchard’s career has been one heck of a ride, right? And honestly, the man has absolutely earned the right to be a starter in the NBA. As we roll into the 2026-27 season, he’s without a doubt one of Boston’s top-five players. But here’s the kicker: could this former Sixth Man of the Year actually be *better* coming off the bench? That’s the hot debate brewing in Boston right now, but when you really dive into the stats, one side of this argument screams out louder than anything else.
Pritchard’s Numbers Demand a Starting Spot
Look, my man Nate is absolutely convinced that starting Pritchard is the only way to go, and after checking the receipts, it’s tough to argue against him. This guy has leveled up, big time, in each of the last three seasons. We’re talking about a seriously balanced scoring guard, one of the best in the entire NBA. I’m not even exaggerating! There’s almost no spot on the floor where he isn’t incredibly efficient. Picture this: among guards, Pritchard was killing it, ranking in the 84th percentile right at the rim, a mind-blowing 97th percentile in the short mid-range, and a super impressive 91st percentile at the free throw line. And what about from distance? He’s launching the fifth most three-pointers per game at his position and still draining a rock-solid 37.7%. That kind of versatile, high-volume shot profile? It’s totally wasted coming off the bench. His production is awesome, no doubt, but its true value skyrockets when it’s baked into Boston’s absolute best starting lineup, setting the tone from the opening buzzer. You want to punch teams in the mouth from the jump, not wait for a bench lift, right?
Why Lineup Optimization is Key With Jaylen Brown Gone
So, the natural question is, if he was so effective as a bench guy, why mess with it? Simple: it’s all about getting the absolute best fit and optimizing that lineup. Historically, Pritchard and Brown had some serious play style overlaps, and the team honestly just did better when they were leading separate units. Pritchard’s output? It absolutely exploded in every single category when Brown was chilling on the bench. But when they shared the floor? His role felt totally muted, almost stifled. The net rating data shouts this truth loud and clear. With both players on the court, they had a respectable +6.6 net rating. Okay, not bad. But when Brown was playing and Pritchard wasn’t? It ticked up modestly to +7.0. Now, here’s the mind-blower: with Pritchard on the floor and no Brown, that net rating nearly *doubled* to a jaw-dropping +13.7! We’re talking about historical data here, numbers holding true across their last five seasons together. That strategy of using them as separate forces worked. But guess what? Brown is out of the picture now, and Tatum is the guy in the mix to start the year. That old separation idea? Gone. It’s no longer necessary. In fact, it’s way more beneficial to maximize Pritchard and Tatum’s playing time together. Take that same five-year sample. While Payton and Jaylen alway
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Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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