logo
Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard named 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard named 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year

USA Today22-04-2025

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard named 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Best first-round NBA playoff matchups
The For The Hoops crew discuss the most exciting first-round NBA playoff series, including Lakers vs. Timberwolves and Rockets vs. Warriors.
Boston Celtics reserve guard Payton Pritchard is the 2024-25 NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Pritchard averaged a career-high 14.3 points for the Celtics, led the NBA in points off the bench with 1,079 in 80 games and set an NBA single-season record for most 3-pointers off the bench with 246. He was third among reserves in assists (257) and had the league's best plus-minus of any reserve at plus-428.
Pritchard shot a career-high 47.2% from the field and made 40% of his 3-point attempts for the third time in six seasons with the Celtics, who had one of the league's top benches. Hs 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists 28.4 minutes per game were also career highs.
'Payton is one of the most dedicated players I've ever been around,' Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a news release. 'He truly loves the game and is committed to the work that goes into being great. In addition, he's driven by winning and doing whatever it takes to help the team."
He had two games with at least 30 points this season, including a career-high 43 points against Portland on March 5. He 24 games with at least 20 points and 22 games with at least five made 3s, including 10 against the Trail Blazers making him the eighth NBA reserve to make 10 or more 3s in a game.
Pritchard, a first-time winner of the trophy named after Celtics great John Havlicek, received 82 of 100 first-place votes, 13 second-place votes and five third-place votes and finished with 454 points ahead of Detroit's Malik Beasley (279 points) and Cleveland's Ty Jerome (81 points).
"Payton is a baller – and his teammates know what they are getting every single day in terms of effort, care, and commitment," Stevens said. "For him to be honored with the award named after the great John Havlicek is a credit to all that he brings to the table for our team."
The 6-1 guard has turned into a valuable contributor and played a significant role in Boston's championship last season.
Boston leads the Orlando Magic 1-0 in their first-round playoff series, and Pritchard scored 19 points and was 4-for-6 on 3s in the series opener. Game 2 is Wednesday in Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT).
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Victor Wembanyama shaves head as he takes retreat at China's Shaolin Temple
Victor Wembanyama shaves head as he takes retreat at China's Shaolin Temple

New York Post

time15 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Victor Wembanyama shaves head as he takes retreat at China's Shaolin Temple

Victor Wembanyama is tapping into his inner monk. As part of an offseason excursion to China, the 7-foot-4 Spurs center is taking part in a 10-day retreat at the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple. Photos of Wembanyama, 21, with a newly shaved head circulated on social media this week, and the NBA's China office confirmed that the Frenchman is at the Buddhist temple. Advertisement According to Spurs reporter Dusty Garza, Wemby is undergoing a 'journey of inner discipline, focus and mind-body harmony.' Wembanyama is readying for his third NBA season after he was diagnosed with season-ending blood clots in his right shoulder in February. Advertisement He enjoyed a terrific sophomore season until that point, earning an All-Star nod by averaging 24.3 points and 11 rebounds per game. But besides his dazzling play on the court, Wembanyama has endeared himself to fans through his quirky and sometimes nerdy persona. The 21-year-old is a proud bookworm — a fan of science fiction, to be specific — and he's also a chess lover who played with fans at Washington Square Park after San Antonio took on the Knicks and Nets in late December. But the foray into Buddhist monkhood is certainly Wembanyama's most notable off-court endeavor yet. Advertisement Spurs center Victor Wembanyama in a game against the Knicks on Dec. 25, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Fans on social media had varying reactions to the news. 'This is the separation right here,' said one user on X. 'MVP otw.' 'We need to start calling him Zenbanyama,' wrote another. Advertisement Spurs center Victor Wembanyama chats with coach Gregg Popovich during a game on Dec. 13, 2023. AP Others were more skeptical about how useful the retreat would truly be, and a few couldn't help but make cracks about Aaron Rodgers, who took a four-day darkness retreat in 2023. 'Y'all hated when Aaron Rodgers did this,' said one user, with another posting: 'Is he turning into Aaron Rodgers?' The Spurs have yet to make a playoff appearance since drafting Wembanyama, but the franchise appears to be trending toward contention after making a deal for star point guard De'Aaron Fox at the trade deadline. When San Antonio does crack into the postseason, perhaps Wembanyama's newfound spiritual awakening will prove helpful.

Red Sox-Yankees game Friday delayed due to rain
Red Sox-Yankees game Friday delayed due to rain

Yahoo

time26 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Red Sox-Yankees game Friday delayed due to rain

Update: First pitch is now scheduled for 7:30 p.m. NEW YORK — The Red Sox and Yankees game Friday here at Yankee Stadium will not start on time. First pitch was scheduled for 7:05 p.m. But the tarp is on the field and the game will be delayed due to rain, the Yankees announced. Advertisement This article will be updated when a new start time is decided. This is the first meeting between the two AL East rivals this season. Boston enters 30-34. The Yankees are 38-23. Red Sox righty Walker Buehler (4-3, 4.44 ERA) is scheduled to start opposite Yankees righty Will Warren (3-3, 5.19 ERA). Struggling rookie Kristian Campbell is not in the Red Sox lineup. David Hamilton will play second base instead. Manager Alex Cora said Campbell will be in the lineup Saturday and Sunday. Catcher Carlos Narváez — who the Red Sox acquired in December from New York— will be the cleanup hitter. During his pregame media availability, Cora said starter Kutter Crawford's sore wrist has no structural damage. He also gave a positive update on Alex Bregman (right quad strain) who began his running progression Thursday. More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.

Red Sox reactions: Yankees pound Walker Buehler, Boston drops to 30-35
Red Sox reactions: Yankees pound Walker Buehler, Boston drops to 30-35

Yahoo

time26 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Red Sox reactions: Yankees pound Walker Buehler, Boston drops to 30-35

NEW YORK — Instant reactions from the Red Sox' 9-6 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday: 1) Boston dropped to five games under .500 (30-35) while the Yankees improved to 16 games over (39-23). The Sox are 13-19 on the road after finishing last year with a winning record (43-38) away from Fenway Park. Advertisement 2) Red Sox starter Walker Buehler gave up five runs on five hits (two homers) and one walk in a disastrous first inning. He pitched just 2 innings and allowed seven runs (five earned runs), seven hits and two walks while striking out two. He also hit a batter to force in a run with the bases loaded. His ERA jumped to 5.18 ERA. 3) Buehler walked leadoff hitter Trent Grisham and allowed a double to Aaron Judge to begin the game. He then got two quick outs and it looked like he might escape without allowing any runs. But Jazz Chisholm Jr. didn't let that happen, belting a 417-foot three-run home run to center field. Two batters later, Anthony Volpe hit a 369-foot two-run home run to right field. 4) Red Sox rookie Marcelo Mayer belted his first major league home run in the fifth inning. He connected on a 93.9 mph four-seam fastball that Yankees rookie starter Will Warren left right down the middle of the plate in the fifth inning. Mayer drove it 410 feet to right-center field. The solo shot left his bat with a 103.3 mph exit velocity. 5) Boston cut it to 8-4 in the sixth inning after Jarren Duran led off the inning with his MLB-leading seventh triple. Wilyer Abreu's sac fly to center field made it 8-2. Romy Gonzalez, who was pinch hitting for Mayer with the bases loaded, hit a two-run single to make it 8-4. Advertisement 6) Rafael Devers narrowed the deficit to 9-6 in the seventh inning when he crushed a 419-foot two-run home run to right field. It was his 17th homer in 62 games at Yankee Stadium. 7) Zack Kelly (2 scoreless innings, four strikeouts) and Cooper Criswell (3 innings, one run) did a good job saving the bullpen. Brennan Bernardino also threw one inning and allowed a run. 8) The Red Sox and Yankees will play the second game of their three-game series at 7:35 p.m. Saturday. The game will be nationally televised on FOX. Boston lefty Garrett Crochet (5-4, 1.98 ERA) will start vs. lefty Ryan Yarbrough (3-0, 2.83 ERA). More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store