Charles Barkley talks Celtics guard Payton Pritchard: 'He built his game'

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard is the NBA Sixth Man of the Year, and a former NBA legend couldn't be happier for Pritchard.

After news of Pritchard winning Sixth Man was announced during the NBA on TNT program on Tuesday night, one of the show's analysts, former NBA great Charles Barkley, spoke fondly of Pritchard.

"You know what’s really cool about that situation?" Barkley said.

"He built his game. He made himself a hell of a player. A lot of guys come in, they got all the hype and everything, but that kid made himself a terrific NBA player. You're happy to see guys win awards like that."

Pritchard became the fourth player in Celtics history to win the Sixth Man Award, joining Malcolm Brogdon (2023), Bill Walton (1986), and Kevin McHale (1984, 1985). The NBA began giving out the award in 1983.

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Pritchard averaged 14.3 points per game for the Celtics this season on 40.7 percent from three. The University of Oregon product was selected by Boston at No. 20 overall in the 2020 NBA draft and signed a four-year, $30 million rookie extension in October 2023.

Pritchard was the eleventh-ranked point guard in the nation as a high school senior in 2016 (per 247Sports).

Here are the players who were ranked ahead of Pritchard:

1. Lonzo Ball
2. Frank Jackson
3. De'Aaron Fox
4. Dennis Smith Jr.
5. Ty Jerome
6. Alterique Gilbert
7. Cassius Winston
8. Markus Howard
9. JJ Caldwell
10. T.J. Gibbs

It's not difficult to argue that Pritchard has had a more productive -- and more successful -- pro career than everyone on that list outside of Fox.

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