NBA Notebook: Payton Pritchard runs back offseason workouts with eye on bigger role

Paul White received a call from his friend and former Oregon teammate Payton Pritchard outlining the weeks he'd spend in Cape Cod hosting his now-annual training runs. In recent years, he's hosted Division I players, overseas professionals, friends and former teammates to guard, challenge, and sometimes batter him. White, who's spent that timeframe recovering from an ACL tear, never joined the workouts before. When he heard Pritchard's plan, he reacted audibly. 

"Man, that's crazy," White said. 

White further realized that on the first day in Harwich. He leaned in after pump-faking on one play and caught an elbow to the face that required stitches. Later, he split his lip open. That's not exactly what Pritchard requested from the participants. Instead, he aimed to make the series of isolation repetitions and open scrimmages as difficult as possible. He stacked the best competition on the opposing side, asked his friend Will Johnson to draw up difficult defenses against him, and welcomed physicality from his defenders. The routine helped him grow into the Sixth Man of the Year in 2024-25, and he needed to heighten the challenge set up in the high school gym to reflect a potential starting role, increased minutes and attention from defenses following various offseason departures and Jayson Tatum's injury. 

In preparation for that, while acknowledging he's fine with starting or continuing to come off the bench, Pritchard emphasized off-platform shooting, pin-downs, flare-slip situations and three-on-three play, his friend Brooks DeBisschop said after taking part in the workouts again. Pritchard also worked on handoffs, setting himself while moving away from the basket and making difficult shots. The weeks also included practice on his one-on-one game, weight training and adding a consistent floater. 

"I think the biggest thing he's trying to work on right now is off-platform shooting," DeBisschop said. "So whether it's, you're in the deep corner coming off of a hand-off, sprinting away from the rim and then being able to, turn and get square and shoot off those shots, which are not easy at all, but just trying to add those more difficult three-point attempts is the biggest thing right now and then in-between, he's really good in the mid-range popping and shooting a jump shot from like 8, 10, 12 feet, but he's trying to add the floater to his game as well, which is something that he hasn't done a ton of, but those are the two main things that he's been focusing on trying to unlock for next year." 

As we noted in December, Pritchard's isolation work involves cycling through multiple spots on the floor from which he wants to improve his scoring efficiency. He'll rotate through multiple defenders, allowing someone to come in fresh while he pushes himself to exhaustion. In the open gym portion, he gets experience attacking traps, double-teams and other schemes defenses might throw at him. Johnson drew up game plans this year to slow Pritchard using physicality and length, throwing multiple defenders at him while Pritchard's teammates typically focused on screening and putting him in the positions he'll play in for Boston. 

Pritchard told Johnson he wanted to be an escape artist with his reads and counters against defenses. One of the most intriguing questions the Celtics will face is how Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Pritchard will adapt to the defensive pressure that Tatum absorbed in his role over the past four years. Johnson experimented with bringing players over from the weak side, different ball screen coverages and even tried a triple-team. Pritchard's team won every game, Johnson acknowledged. 

"There's a time and place for cone work, when there's no live defender, you're just stationary," Michael Soares, Pritchard's friend and a fitness trainer said. "But the game of basketball is evolving into a very dynamic sport. A lot of guys, it's not very frequent they just take an open shot, a set open shot. So you have to learn how to make adjustments on the fly, you're driving to the hoop and there's a second defender coming in, having live defenders really increases the difficulty, and if you can get used to that difficulty, you're mimicking an in-game scenario so frequently, every single day during your offseason, it becomes second nature when he goes into a game." 

Soares focused on the personnel at the runs, who's coming-and-going, what kind of players they need and who's available around the Boston area. Pritchard paid some players to travel for the workouts, while some like DeBisschop, have become mainstays. They spent between 2-2.5 hours in the gym per day, including their lifts. Then, they'd shower, hit the golf course, where Pritchard's growing increasingly passionate, even hiring a personal coach. They spent time at the pool, got dinners around the Cape and if they burned enough calories, they'd grab a dessert like a milkshake. Last year, those around Pritchard noted how a renewed dedication to health, including giving up drinking, contributed to Pritchard's breakout season. 

For White, the reunion with Pritchard offered him a chance to see his friend's growth in-person, work out how Pritchard does and track his statistical output in the runs. Pritchard had a Merrimack College student track stats throughout the weeks. The methodical approach and work ethic of his former teammate didn't surprise White. They roomed together at Oregon, so White saw how he rose early to lift and shoot before breakfast and class. He went through practice and spent extra time on his finishing with trainers after. Then, he watched the famous ball-handling routine that Pritchard popularized in his garage, spending 10-20 minutes on dribbling while mixing in a heavy ball. White also looked out for him at the time, steering Pritchard clear of people who weren't in his best interests, and helping him form a circle that persisted to his NBA career. A small group of friends including DeBisschop, his photographer Chase McMann and Soares, who Pritchard met through his wife's sister, who Soares trained, have helped Pritchard stay on track. 

But for intrinsic motivation, White still sees Pritchard driven by the notion that he'll never look like the prototypical successful NBA player. The point guard position shifted toward elite physicality, speed and size over the past decade or two. Pritchard will look to take another leap in 2025-26 leaning into his shooting, anticipation, skills and even though he stands around six-feet -- don't overlook the physicality he's developed to thrive amongst the taller stars. He brought those lessons to a camp he hosted for the first time in Spain this summer focused on uniting basketball cultures around the world and thinking the game from a young age. True to Joe Mazzulla's lessons, they focused on spacing. 

"If you look at people who are making big bucks playing professional ball, a lot of them don't look like Payton," White said. "It's hard to make it in the NBA if you're 6-2, 6-3, and you don't have a crazy vertical or you're not known for your lightning speed and being like a bull like a (Russell) Westbrook or Derrick Rose. The point guards like Derrick Rose and Westbrook ushered in the era of point guards that are just lightning quick, that are very athletic, that are very strong, that are either tall or they have some kind of superpower. And when you look at Payton, His superpower is hard work, and his superpower is knowing the game. His superpower is filling in some of the cracks some teams might overlook, having a competitive nature, being someone that doesn't like to be doubted. These are things where you would think that it's common in every NBA player. I'm not gonna speak for every NBA player, but what I will say is that Payton understood the landscape and the narrative that he was going up against. The narrative is that he can't jump, is that he's not as quick and that he's not as big, and so when you have those three things going against you, it's hard to make it to the NBA." 

"He's gotten everything through his hard work." 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Kristaps Porziņģis scored 34 points with 19 rebounds to keep Latvia in the opening game of the knockout round against Lithuania, marking the first time a player compiled those statistics in a EuroBasket game in more than 30 years. Porziņģis averaged 20.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG and 1.7 BPG between group play in the round of 16 on Saturday. He shot 46.8% from the field, mostly attempting threes and shook off an 0-for-13 start to the tournament from deep to close 10-for-25 (40% 3PT). Latvia dealt with injuries to Arturs Zagars, who played in the loss, and Andrejs Grazulis (foot), who did not during EuroBasket. Porziņģis will now return to Atlanta for his first training camp with the Hawks. 

Boston: Neemias Queta and Portugal built a halftime lead over reigning World Cup champion Germany, who went undefeated in group play. Queta finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting, blocking Dennis Schröder and hitting his second three of the tournament. Germany, however, pulled away with a 33-7 fourth quarter and won, 85-58, to advance to the quarterfinals. Portugal finished the tournament with his furthest run ever into EuroBasket, holding on to defeat Estonia in the group play finale after officials ejected Queta with consecutive technical fouls after he screamed and-one near an opponent. Long-time teammate and friend Rafael Lisboa hit a game-tying three long behind the three-point line late and converted game-winning free throws several possessions later. Queta averaged 15.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 1.7 BPG on 57.6% shooting in EuroBasket. Shoutout to Celtics long-time PR vice president Jeff Twiss, who received long-overdue Hall-of-Fame honors. He joined the organization in 1981 and is returning for 2025-26. 

Brooklyn: Restricted free agent Cam Thomas signed his one-year, $6 million qualifying offer, becoming the first of a high-profile group of remaining free agents to relent to trying unrestricted free agency next year. Thomas receives a no-trade clause with the move and the Nets maintain $16.1 million in cap space and up to $24.7 million if they clear their books entirely. That could create a status quo for the team as it begins another rebuild season, or allow for one more move where the team absorbs a contract. They notably have 18 players on standard contracts now, which will force them to make one move by the end of training camp. Keon Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Tyrese Martin and Drew Timme are playing on non-guaranteed contracts. The Nets had offered two-years, $30 million with a second-year team option or a one-year, $9-11 million contract without a no-trade clause. 

Chicago: The Bulls reportedly offered Josh Giddey a four-year, $88 million contract in their latest overture to end his restricted free agency saga. Giddey reportedly sought $30 million in average annual value in negotiations while Chicago preferred closer to $20 million. The Bulls might need to approach $100 million to finalize a contract, but it's clear they've prioritized bringing him back and haven't considered sign-and-trade scenarios despite how long talks have spanned. Nikola Vučević, who has expressed interest in remaining with Chicago beyond this contract season, saw his final run with Montenegro come to an end with a loss to Great Britain. Vučević announced his retirement from the national team at age 34. 

We will see—I have one more year left with them, so we will see what happens if I stay or if something changes. But yeah, obviously, I would love to win in Chicago," he said.

Dallas: Extended PJ Washington on a four-year, $90 million contract that secured their front court long term and rendered Washington ineligible to be traded this season. The Mavs already extended Daniel Gafford, who remained trade-eligible due to the structure of his deal. Anthony Davis is signed through 2027, when he has a $62.8 million player option and Cooper Flagg's rookie deal runs through 2029. The Mavs will face second apron pressure next year, when they're $3.9 million short of that line between 12 players. Washington averaged 14.7 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.1 SPG and 1.1 BPG, shooting 38.1% from three after helping the Mavs reach the Finals after arriving at the 2024 deadline. 

Denver/Utah: Lauri Markkanen and Finland shocked Serbia in the EuroBasket round of 16, knocking off Nikola Jokić and the favorites in the tournament prior to Bogdan Bogdanović's injury during group play. Jokić scored 33 points on 9-for-13 shooting, and Markkanen shot 8-for-24 while struggling from three (1-9 3PT), but Finland got three other double-figure scoring performances while Serbia only got one from Heat wing Nikola Jović (4-9 3PT). Jokić averaged 20.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 4.4 APG on 65.5% shooting prior to Saturday. Markkanen posted 25.4 PPG and 8.2 RPG on 44.7% FG (34.4% 3PT) before scoring 29 points on Saturday. Miikka Muurinen, a top prospect for the 2027 NBA Draft, has thrived in EuroBasket for Finland. He's weighing offers from Duke, Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA entering his final year of high school. 

As Carmelo Anthony enters the Hall-of-Fame, many wonder why the Denver Nuggets, who he began his career with, haven't retired his number. Jokić taking Anthony's No. 15 could complicate that matter. 

“He could’ve worn it because he wanted to pay homage," Anthony said on his podcast. "But what I believe is they gave him 15 to try to erase what I did. I used to think about it. I don’t think about that [expletive] no more though because what is meant to be is meant to be.”

Golden State: Cam Thomas taking the qualifying offer should clear the way for Jonathan Kuminga to take his $7.9 million qualifying offer to end his own restricted free agency saga. Kuminga had, like Josh Giddey, pushed for $25-30 million in average annual value while Golden State came in at two-years, $45 million with a second-year team option and a waived no-trade clause, and haven't shown any signs of budging. Kuminga and the Warriors both assume risk by going the qualifying offer route, but it would allow Kuminga to return to unrestricted free agency for teams that already had interest in him while Golden State would have lost his salary slot, remaining potential and could setup challenges entering a critical season where they'll try to capitalize on a closing championship window. Though reported deals for Al Horford, Gary Payton II and De'Anthony Melton, which have been held up by the saga, would be made easier to fit into the cap if Kuminga takes the qualifying offer. 

Houston: Take notice of what Alperen Şengün is doing in EuroBasket. Turkey won all six games through their round of 16 victory over Sweden, where he dropped 24 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and two blocks on 8-for-16 shooting. He's averaging 22.0 PPG, 10.7 RPG and 6.7 APG on 62.5% shooting, Turkey emerging as the favorite to win the tournament after Serbia's elimination with Şengün the MVP frontrunner. Şengün had already beaten Nikola Jokić and Serbia in group play, posting 28 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in the win alongside 4-for-7 three-point shooting. Şengün appears poised to remain a massive part of the Rockets' offense even with Kevin Durant's arrival and Amen Thompson's ascension. 

Indiana: Tyrese Haliburton appeared on Big Noon Kickoff at Iowa St. to share the latest on his Achilles recovery, that it's coming along, along with poking fun at Kawhi Leonard for his and the Clippers' ongoing controversy, while reacting to news that Fever star Caitlin Clark will miss the rest of her season with a groin, quad and ankle injury. Clark last played on July 15. 

Clippers: Pablo Torre released a bombshell report that Steve Ballmer invested $50 million in Aspiration, a carbon-offsetting company that's since gone bankrupt with its owner Joe Sanberg pleading guilty of defrauding investors. Aspiration, in turn, paid $28 million to Kawhi Leonard for an endorsement deal he never needed to do anything for other than, according to the contract, remain part of the LA Clippers. A mountain of evidence, including a Boston Sports Journal report that Sanberg personally committed $20 million to Leonard in stock, amounting to nearly the full Ballmer investment, points toward the deal being a scheme to provide Leonard sweetener beyond what's allowed by the NBA CBA. Former employees even told Torre that they were informed that Leonard's deal was for the purpose of circumventing the cap. The Clippers denied the implication, saying that the team had no oversight over Leonard's deal with Aspiration while the Clippers parted ways from a sponsorship deal with Aspiration during the 2022-23 season when the company failed to meet its commitments. The NBA opened an investigation into the Clippers, having already found no wrongdoing when other teams pushed the league to look into Leonard's contract in the first place after Leonard had allegedly asked for barred sweeteners from other teams in free agency. The last major cap circumvention case in the NBA, the Timberwolves' signing of Joe Smith, resulted in Minnesota losing five first round picks, suspensions for Wolves executives, a $3.5 million fine and the voiding of Smith's contract. All could be in play here, but it's unclear if the evidence produced in the Timberwolves case by a dispute between agents is available in this case. Ballmer appeared on ESPN to defend himself. 

Minnesota: Interested in reading more about the Joe Smith saga? The Athletic looked back at the 1999 scandal that could preview the fallout for the Clippers ahead. 

New York: Carmelo Anthony entered the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, ranking 10th on the NBA all-time scoring list, making six All-NBA teams and emerging as a favorite among Knicks fans after he pulled them out of a losing era in 2011 by keying in on them as his preferred destination in a trade from the Knicks. Anthony also became an icon for the national championship he won at Syracuse in 2003, his close friendship with fellow stars from his draft class, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, along with his leading role on three gold medal teams at the Olympics. Anthony also became a figure of ridicule for fans for never coming close to winning an NBA title, the manner in which he forced his way to New York and for his approach to the game outside of scoring. But he undoubtedly became a titan in basketball culture, especially after arriving in New York City. The Knicks reportedly remain interested in Ben Simmons if he wants to continue playing, but Simmons' agent parting ways with him and reports about tepid interest around the league cast some doubt.

Oklahoma City: Thunder first-round pick Thomas Sorber, who the team selected 15th overall out of Georgetown, tore his right ACL this week and will undergo season-ending surgery. Sorber follows other recent Thunder rookies who missed their first season due to injury, including Nikola Topić, who tore his ACL last summer, and Chet Holmgren, who suffered a foot injury that cost him the entire 2022-23 season. The Thunder have Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams at center, which would've limited Sorber's opportunities anyway. 

Orlando: Dwight Howard entered the Hall of Fame on Saturday as an even more divisive figure than Anthony, forcing his way off the Magic in even more dramatic fashion before effectively becoming a journeyman after an ill-fated Lakers tenure. Howard's start to his career rivaled most centers though, reaching the 2009 Finals as the Magic's centerpiece, making five All-NBA First Teams and winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards. Howard, in a return to the Lakers, won an NBA championship in the Bubble in 2020. He became the Magic's all-time leading scorer in 2012, ranks 10th all-time in NBA career rebounds and 13th in blocks. 

Philadelphia: Jared McCain, the 76ers' 2024 first round pick who emerged as the rookie of the year favorite before injury, is on track to return for training camp after tearing his meniscus, he said. The Sixers travel to Abu Dhabi for preseason games early next month before beginning the regular season in Boston on Oct. 22. 

San Antonio: No. 2 overall pick from June's NBA Draft Dylan Harper underwent surgery to repair a partially torn collateral ligament in his left thumb after injuring it on Wednesday in a workout. It's unclear if Harper will recover in time for opening night on Oct. 22, when he and the Spurs are featured in a showcase opposite of No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and the Mavs, but the early surgery timeframe put a return in play. 

Toronto: The Raptors were perhaps the team least surprised with the Kawhi Leonard allegations, as Leonard's camp reportedly frustrated Toronto with big asks that included a stake in the Maple Leafs. Leonard ultimately departed the Raptors that summer after leading the franchise to its first championship in his lone season there.The Athletic reported on the league's response to complaints over how Leonard, and perhaps others, handled free agency in 2019.