This is the secret to Payton Pritchard’s potential award-winning season

The Boston Celtics are off to an amazing start to the year. In fact, it’s a better start than the one they had last year—a season that ended in 64 regular-season wins, a 16-3 postseason record, and an NBA Championship. Boston brought back the same exact core this season, but one player in particular has stepped into a much larger role.

Payton Pritchard was a key player off the bench last season, but this year, he’s been a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate. He’s been everything the Celtics have needed and more, establishing himself as one of the top scorers on one of the top teams in the NBA.

But what has been the secret?

Well, according to head coach Joe Mazzulla, Pritchard’s ability and willingness to adapt his game has been crucial. (H/t Noa Dalzell of SB Nation)

“I wouldn’t say necessarily this year, I would say the difference in him in the last two seasons is the ability to just become a better overall player,” Mazzulla said. “He doesn’t need the ball in his hands. I think coming out of college in his first year, it was an adjustment because in college, he always had the ball. 

“I think over the last couple of years, he’s learned to really impact the game and be effective without the ball. Whether it’s cutting, whether it’s coming off screens, whether it’s offensive rebounding. And then you’ve seen what he’s done defensively with his ball pressure. It can change the game. And so, I think he’s just finding ways to impact the game differently every single night.”

Pritchard made his money in the NBA as an off-ball player. This year, he’s been given more freedom to play on the ball, just as he was asked to in college. He’s making plays for others and has been elite at creating shots for himself.

The threes are great, but he’s also been able to get inside, work around the rim, and score inside. He’s getting big men on his back, pump-faking, getting them in the air, and scoring. Plus, his turnaround mid-range shot has been money.

But despite being given more opportunities with the ball, Pritchard has been just as effective playing off the ball. And that’s what makes him such a threat.

The Celtics have amazing players up and down the roster, headlined by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and Pritchard has been able to seamlessly play alongside them.

Add in his rebounding, defense, and cutting, and Pritchard is a total package. Whether it’s moving without the ball to open spaces or navigating screens to get an open three, Pritchard has been amazing.