Boston Celtics guard reacts to breaking NBA record for bench players

The Celtics have broken plenty of NBA records already this season, often having to do with how many 3-pointers they put up. That was indeed the case in their win over the Nets on Saturday as Payton Pritchard was the latest guy to enter the history books.

This record was specifically for bench players. Pritchard, after hitting a 3-pointer with 5:59 left in the game, recorded his 219th made 3 of the season. That’s the most-ever for a player coming off the bench in NBA history, passing Wayne Ellington from the 2017-18 season. Pritchard scored 22 points Saturday as the Celtics beat the Nets.

“Just means I did my job off the bench at a high level,” Pritchard told reporters in Brooklyn. “Hopefully I can continue to do that. … There’s no records, there’s no rewards I ever look at. It’s all about self-improvement. Looking at every game, what can I do to keep growing and keep bettering myself and ultimately, that’s all that matters to me. Just trying to take another step. Hopefully I can keep that going.”

It’s only fitting Pritchard broke an NBA record for bench players in a career-best season. After a torrid start to the year, he’s still the favorite to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Thus far this season, he’s averaging 14.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 67 games, all coming off the bench.

The Celtics have leaned on Pritchard as their sixth man all season. While his role has fluctuated ever since he was taken in the first round back in 2020, Pritchard’s now a key part of the rotation. The guard’s shooting is his main weapon, but Pritchard has found ways to contribute elsewhere like with his defense and rebounding.

“Congrats to him,” Jayson Tatum said. “Anytime you hold a record in the NBA, regardless of whatever it is, it’s special. So I’m happy for him. He works really, really hard. Everybody knows that. His ability to stretch the floor and kind of take over in stretches sometimes has really helped us. He helped us win a championship.”

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