A Lot Has Changed for the Boston Celtics
Two years after winning a championship and reigning supreme at the top of the NBA, the Boston Celtics have shifted course — especially after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. While new faces are getting used to being in Boston and learning a new system, the Celtics’ veterans are setting the standard for how this season will go, particularly Payton Pritchard.
### Payton Pritchard’s Early Career: A Spark Off the Bench
Over his first few years in the league, Pritchard was perceived as a smaller guard trying to fit into a league transitioning to positionless basketball, where longer, more athletic players are favored. When the Celtics drafted him 26th overall in 2020, they never viewed him as a starter. Instead, Pritchard was seen as a spark of energy off the bench because of his perimeter scoring prowess.
While successful on the court, his minutes were limited. Reflecting on those times, Pritchard told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview,
> “I would be lying if I said there weren’t tough times. There are always a lot of thoughts and emotions in situations like that, but I am thankful for the adversity because it’s what made me a better basketball player. It made me better mentally. When you go through tough times like that and when you aren’t getting what you have worked so hard for in life, it’s a chance to emerge as a better version of yourself.”
### Staying in Boston and Proving Himself
After a limited role for three straight seasons, rumors circulated about Pritchard wanting to be traded. However, the Celtics continued to value him as an essential part of the team’s future. No trades materialized, and Pritchard returned for the 2023-24 season with a new four-year, $30 million contract, ready to prove himself off the bench.
He did just that.
The young guard played in all 82 games during the 2023-24 season, delivering strong production off the bench. His efforts helped elevate the Celtics to a championship. Pritchard averaged a career-high 28.4 minutes per game and was named the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
### A Relentless Mindset
Pritchard admits his journey has been tough, but his relentless attitude has always driven him forward.
> “I look at the word ‘relentless’ as a means to define who I am. It is an undying hunger to always keep getting better and better. Always striving for more,” he stated.
> “I am obviously very grateful for everything I have and will never take it for granted, but that relentlessness in me is always pushing for more. It’s always about getting to that next step in your career, life, or whatever it may be. Every day is a new opportunity to get better, and I live by that mindset.
> “It’s a major reason why I’ve found so much success in my role with the Celtics.”
### New Role, Same Player in Boston
Every NBA season brings change and new roles, but not everyone seizes the opportunity to grow. For Pritchard, the 2022-23 season marked a turning point in both his career and life.
As a 25-year-old eager for a larger role, Pritchard dedicated countless hours to refining his craft. Although workouts and techniques evolved, his routine remained consistent and precise. He knew his moment would come, and it did during the 2023-24 championship run.
Building on that success, Pritchard won the Sixth Man of the Year award for the 2024-25 season and is now the Celtics’ starting point guard.
Before the 2025-26 season, he had started only 17 of his 347 career games. However, he has started each of Boston’s first 10 games this year.
Despite the new role, Pritchard’s ego remains in check. He is focused solely on the team’s success and wasn’t concerned about any adjustment period.
> “Honestly, the biggest challenge isn’t even related to going from sixth man to starter. It’s the fact that we have a completely new team,” Pritchard admitted.
> “People can look at the first 10 games of the year and freak out. It’s normal with NBA fans. But I truly believe, and I’ve always said, that by the end of this year, the narrative will shift to evaluating how much better we got.
> “That’s the new mindset of looking at each game and figuring out how we will chip away at creating this new identity and getting better.”
### There Is Nothing “Lucky” About Payton Pritchard
The word “lucky” is often associated with the Celtics—rooted in Boston’s Irish-American heritage—and even the team’s mascot, a leprechaun named Lucky. Throughout Pritchard’s career, “lucky” has also been linked to him, but that word now carries a different meaning.
Pritchard has partnered with Lucky Energy on a new Boston-built campaign centered around the motto:
**“Payton Isn’t Lucky. He’s Relentless.”**
> “We just have a lot of similarities, and it was easy to forge this partnership,” Pritchard said.
> “Their outlook on their brand is very similar to how I look at myself personally. I am a very relentless person, and they are all about changing the game with what they are doing. Instantly, I knew this was something I wanted to do because of how relatable it was to who I am as a person.”
Throughout his basketball journey, Pritchard was never the tallest or most physical player, but his internal drive and relentless perseverance allowed him to keep his dreams alive.
Incorporating Boston into this campaign was intentional.
> “Filming the content for the campaign in Boston was intentional for what we want to achieve,” Pritchard explained.
> “The city of Boston represents toughness, resilience, and a gritty nature. Those three words not only describe me as a person and player, but they also describe Lucky.
> “It was a no-brainer to do this in Boston, especially since it all came together in such a perfect way.”
Despite the campaign’s name, Pritchard acknowledges the role luck plays in success.
> “Absolutely, 100 percent. You definitely need luck,” he pointed out.
> “You obviously need to help control the things that put you in this position to be a professional athlete, but everyone always has a lucky break in life, and it’s not just in sports.
> “I am lucky and fortunate enough to be in this position because of my toughness and resilience, which goes back to the whole campaign we have going with Lucky. But overall, you have to take care of the things to put yourself in a position to be lucky in the first place.”
### Leadership Unchanged Without Jayson Tatum
Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks was a major blow to the Celtics. As the franchise’s face, his absence altered the team’s trajectory.
Moves involving Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were partly influenced by the team’s readiness to take a step back. Aside from Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and a few bench players are the only returning talents this season.
Pritchard was prepared to step up with Holiday gone and Tatum sidelined.
> “There are obviously some leadership aspects that come with going from the bench to the starting lineup, you know? Becoming a starter is, in a way, the franchise believing in you to become more of a leader for the younger, less experienced players,” Pritchard shared.
> “Not coming off the bench and starting and maybe playing a little bit more minutes — it’s definitely different, but it’s something I’ve always worked for.
> “I was ready for it as soon as Joe (Mazzulla) told me about the lineup change.”
Tatum’s injury shifted the Celtics’ dynamic. Coach Joe Mazzulla adapted his approach, with Brown emerging as the top scorer and both White and Pritchard becoming focal points in the backcourt.
Even so, Pritchard’s leadership style remained consistent—leading by example and encouraging younger players.
> “I wouldn’t say his absence directly changed who I am or my role in becoming a leader because it was the natural flow of where we were going as a team,” he explained.
> “I can be a leader with or without Jayson (Tatum) on the floor. Jaylen (Brown) can be a leader with or without him. That had no impact on my leadership.
> “For me, I try to lead by example; through my work ethic and how I show up every day. I am always encouraging the younger guys on our roster because I know it can be tough. I was in that spot not too long ago. There are a lot of ups and downs over the course of an 82-game season, and you learn that as the years go on. More importantly, you learn how to tackle the good and bad with that relentless mindset.
> “Keeping the same constant, positive mental approach is essential, and that’s what makes you a good leader, regardless of whether you are the best player in the league or not.”
### Relentless in Every Aspect of Life
For Pritchard, leadership isn’t about personal accolades—it’s about helping the team improve. Winning the Sixth Man of the Year and becoming a starter have been milestones, but his relentless mindset remains the foundation of his success.
> “For me, my goals are things I can control every day. Honestly, it’s all about habits for me. I think that goes back to the whole idea of being relentless,” Pritchard declared.
> “A lot of people look at this word and relate it to how good a player is on the court, but it’s really how you wake up every day. How are your habits? Are you taking care of your body? Are you doing your workouts to the best of your ability?
> “These are some of my goals just to be on point in everything I am doing in my life, to be the best basketball player possible. That is what has made me successful, and it’s directly impacted us being a championship organization.”
### Looking Ahead: Building the Celtics’ Identity
The Celtics and Pritchard are only 10 games into the 2025-26 season. Much will change during the long 82-game journey, and the core of this team has weathered challenges before.
Early-season issues—especially without Tatum—are expected. However, the team’s identity and DNA will be forged by learning from mistakes and becoming the best versions of themselves.
For Pritchard, instilling a relentless mindset in his teammates is key.
> “It is a long season, and it is inevitable that everyone will face hardships. You have to be able to look at the season through the lens of wanting and being willing to grow every day, regardless of the sacrifice. The biggest lesson I share with the younger guys is to keep that growing mentality.
> “If you have it through 82 games, the outcome will be favorable for you. By the end of the year, we want to be looked at as one of those toughest teams and one nobody wants to face in the playoffs.”
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Payton Pritchard’s journey with the Boston Celtics embodies resilience, growth, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. As he steps into a larger leadership role, his unwavering mindset continues to inspire both his teammates and fans alike.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/exclusive-payton-pritchard-relentless-journey-lucky-energy-campaign
