Celtics reportedly sign G Payton Pritchard to 2-year, $44.2 million extension, with a mutual option

The Boston Celtics are reportedly signing guard Payton Pritchard to a two-year, $44.2 million extension, according to ESPN's Shams Charania . The deal also includes a mutual option for the 2029-2030 season, and it is fully guaranteed.

The Celtics selected Pritchard with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He helped them win the 2024 NBA championship and was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.

The Boston guard has been used off the bench throughout his career, but he started 50 games last year, a significant increase from three the year before. Pritchard averaged a career-high 17 points per game last year. He also averaged 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 32.4 minutes per game.

Pritchard is once again projected to come off the bench this season. Derrick White is expected to start at point guard, with Baylor Scheierman at shooting guard. The Celtics will likely rely more on Pritchard off the bench this season, because former guard Jaylen Brown now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Despite being a first-round pick, the guard has carved out a role as a depth player. He tended to fly under the radar, but had his first breakout game on April 9, 2023, against the Atlanta Hawks.

Pritchard finished with 30 points and hit nine 3-pointers. He added 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his first triple-double.

The guard's best scoring output came on March 5, 2025, when he drilled 10 3-pointers and finished with 43 points. Pritchard also grabbed 10 rebounds.

He has 16 games in which he has made at least five 3-pointers. Pritchard is shooting 39.4% from beyond the arc in his career. Last year, he averaged 7.1 3-point attempts per game, the 18th most in the league.

The Boston guard's 37.7% 3-point percentage ranked 11th-highest among players who attempted that many shots from beyond the arc.

Pritchard and the Celtics will open the 2026-2027 NBA season on Oct. 20 on the road against the Detroit Pistons.