Secret to Payton Pritchard’s success traces back to Wembanyama’s realization

The Boston Celtics absolutely destroyed the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night. It was the second time in the past week the two sides faced off against each other, and Boston’s second win was more dominant than the first. Detroit was no match for the Celtics’ high-powered offense, led by Payton Pritchard.

Jayson Tatum was out for the game, as were Sam Hauser and Jaden Springer. That left the Celtics to find other primary sources of offense. Jaylen Brown was a great playmaker, and Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White stepped up, but Pritchard stole the show. There was nothing the Pistons could do to slow him down.

Pritchard even stayed in the game when the true bench-warmers got their run. He was leading the way for a group of JD Davison, Drew Peterson, Jordan Walsh, and Neemias Queta.

Payton Pritchard's mindset is what makes him so special

Those are the moments where Pritchard truly shines above the rest. His work ethic, desire to compete, and hard-nosed mentality become clear as day.

“He just loves to compete,” said Joe Mazzulla. “So, at the end of the day, I enjoy it teammates enjoy it. It's fun just watching him compete at a high level. He doesn't really play to a scoreboard. He just plays to compete, and that's a beautiful gift that he has.”

Before the season, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama went viral for a quote he had about opposing NBA players.

“In a good and bad way, it’s how, truly, the best in the game are,” Wembanyama said via Dime. “How, in a good way, some of them are really impressive and inspiring in the way they approach the game every night. But others that I used to like, now it’s like, nah, I’m just not sure they deserve it. Like they don’t seem like they put as much work in as I thought.”

“Some of the guys I’ve been watching growing up — I’m not disappointed, but I’m like, ah, that’s it? But some of them, talking like KD, I got to know Rudy Gobert even more with the national team, I know their work ethic. I know how they view the game and it’s really inspiring. I want to do the same. There are current players I admire, especially KD. Because I’ve seen the behind the scenes and I know it’s for real.”

That part in the middle. “They don’t seem like they put as much work in as I thought.” That’s Pritchard.

Obviously, Pritchard isn’t a star on the level of Kevin Durant or Wembanyama or even Rudy Gobert. But his work ethic separates him from the pack.

His willingness to play with the garbage time guys. No. His desire to play with those guys. To play as many minutes as possible.

As Mazzulla said, there is no scoreboard when Pritchard’s in the game. No clock. Just him, a basketball, and the game itself.

Pritchard has the mindset that Wembanyama doesn’t see from some of the NBA’s top stars. It’s what makes him such a special player.