Jaylen Brown Praises Teammate for "Playing at an All-Star Level"

The Boston Celtics have been incredible this season. For one, they are the second-seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 37-19. Yes, the Celtics have been near the top of the East standings for what seems like nearly a decade. However, this season, they’re doing it without Jayson Tatum, who is widely considered their best player. 

While Jaylen Brown has been the superstar keeping the team relevant, it’s been the rest of the Celtics' supporting cast that has kept the team elite. 

The role player who may have stepped up the most is Payton Pritchard. Pritchard averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season. This year, his numbers are up across the board, averaging 17.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. 

Brown recently praised Pritchard for his play, saying, “I think he's really figured it out. So we continue to roll with that, trust that, let him run things, because his level of play has raised. I think he's really kind of figured it out, how to get to his spots, and, you know, shooting the ball well, and he's seeing the game well…So Payton has been playing at an All-Star level, and I'm happy to see it. Nobody happier to see it than me. So, like, we find ways throughout the game that trust him and allow him to run the show.”

While Payton might not be quite an All-Star-level player, he is currently the second-most impactful player on the league's fourth-best team (record-wise). For a guy of Pritchard’s size and athleticism, that’s an incredible feat. And, when Tatum eventually returns, Pritchard’s time as the Celtics’ number two option should only help him be an even more elite third option.