Celtics Guard Payton Pritchard Sees Drastic Rise in NBA Player Rankings

Pritchard's stellar play this season has him climbing the league's top 100 rankings.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:23am

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Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard has seen a drastic rise in the latest NBA player rankings, jumping from No. 86 to No. 69 following a standout stretch of play in the back half of the season. Pritchard has emerged as a key rotation piece for the Celtics, securing Sixth Man of the Year honors last season and putting together the best campaign of his young career so far this year.

Why it matters

Pritchard's rise in the rankings is a testament to his continued development and importance to the Celtics' success this season. With star forward Jayson Tatum sidelined for most of the year, Pritchard has stepped up to fill the void, showcasing his scoring, playmaking, and all-around impact off the bench.

The details

Pritchard is currently averaging 17.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, all career-highs. Following the All-Star break, he's been even more impressive, putting up 18.6 points and 5.7 assists per game on 49.7% shooting from the field and 44.0% from 3-point range. This stellar play has earned Pritchard recognition as one of the league's most improved players, with NBA analyst Kevin O'Connor praising his "elite" creation and playmaking abilities.

  • Pritchard was ranked No. 86 in the NBA's top 100 player rankings on January 29th.
  • Pritchard is now ranked No. 69 in the latest update of the NBA's top 100 player rankings.

The players

Payton Pritchard

A 28-year-old guard for the Boston Celtics who is having a breakout season, averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists while emerging as a key rotation piece for the team.

Jaylen Brown

The star forward for the Boston Celtics who has praised Pritchard's play this season, saying "Payton has been playing at an All-Star level and I'm happy to see it."

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward who has missed most of this season, leading to an expanded role for Pritchard to step up and fill the void.

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What they’re saying

“The creation and the playmaking is truly elite over the last 20 days or so. All year he's been very very good with more on his plate without Jayson Tatum out there. He's amazing.”

— Kevin O'Connor, NBA Analyst

“Payton has been playing at an All-Star level and I'm happy to see it. Nobody happier to see it than me.”

— Jaylen Brown

What’s next

Pritchard will look to continue his strong play as the Celtics push for a top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The takeaway

Payton Pritchard's rise in the NBA player rankings is a testament to his hard work and development, as he has stepped up in a big way for the Celtics this season to help fill the void left by Jayson Tatum's absence. His stellar play off the bench has earned him recognition as one of the league's most improved players.