Pritchard: Winning 6MOY 'not something I really think about'

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard doesn't have his sights set on winning Sixth Man of the Year, despite his stellar start.

"It's not something I really think about," Pritchard told reporters, including Boston.com's Conor Roche. "If I'm fortunate enough to win, that's I guess a testament to the hard work I put in, and I think it just means that I helped this team coming off the bench and doing my job at a high level."

He added, "It's not something like if I don't win or win, it's not make-or-break it for me. I'm (going to) continue doing what I'm doing."

Pritchard is the favorite to win the award - averaging a career-high 16.5 points along with 3.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and a steal in 25 games off the bench. He ranks fifth on the team in scoring, behind Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White.

He's the only Celtics player to appear in all 25 games this season. He recorded 27 points and 10 assists in Boston's victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

The Celtics signed the former Oregon guard to a four-year, $30-million extension in 2023 after he originally asked to be traded. Pritchard was given a consistent role off the bench after the franchise moved former Sixth Man of the Year winner Malcolm Brogdon to the Portland Trail Blazers to help land Jrue Holiday. Pritchard played all 82 games in the regular season, averaging 9.6 points, and averaged 6.4 points in the postseason during the team's championship run.

"Last year, he was amazing for us," White said about Pritchard. "I feel like this year, he's taken another step. That's just a credit to him and just always wanting to get better. Now, it's just consistently every night you know what to expect, and you're not shocked by that."