Jayson Tatum Praises Teammate's Shocking Transformation Into NBA Star originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard are both 28, but they've taken very different paths to NBA stardom with the Boston Celtics.
Tatum went to Duke, was the third overall draft pick at age 19 and was an All-Star by age 21, finding instant success in the NBA and quickly evolving into a superstar.
Meanwhile, Pritchard didn't debut until he was 22 and came along more slowly. He's rapidly improved over the last several seasons, however, helping the Celtics win a championship in 2024, winning NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2025 and having the best season of his career this year.
After watching Pritchard lead all players with 32 points off the bench in Sunday's 128-96rout of the Philadelphia 76ers, Tatum had nothing but praise for his scrappy teammate and his remarkable evolution over the past decade.
From high school to the biggest stage 👀Jayson Tatum reflects on Payton Pritchard’s growth over the years after his 32-point performance in a Game 4 win! pic.twitter.com/DjU0nm5zkK
"It's incredible to see, where he started from," Tatum said during his postgame press conference. "I've known P since we were in high school... Obviously, he's a better version of himself. But he's always been that competitive, doesn't back down from anybody. Always takes on a challenge. Just his ability to create his own shot and how well he can shoot the ball. It's a luxury to have a guy like that who can score with the best of them, coming off the bench on your team."
Pritchard has become the team's third-best scorer after Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He's also one of the best reserves in the NBA, giving Boston a massive boost off the bench on a nightly basis.
His continued growth this year is a big reason why the Celtics managed to survive most of the season without Tatum, and it's a big reason why they're only one win away from advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
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