Payton Pritchard admits what he feels about playing with Mike Conley on the Celtics
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Payton Pritchard admits what he feels about playing with Mike Conley on the Celtics originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In the 2026 offseason, the Boston Celtics have made some big changes. Of course, the Jaylen Brown trade for Paul George and a haul of picks is the headline. However, they do have new additions like Mitchell Robinson and veteran point guard Mike Conley Jr.
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The latter is probably one of the biggest additions they can make because this team needs more leaders. While Conley might not play regular minutes, he will be a valuable member of the locker room. With a player like Payton Pritchard ready to learn from Conley, the Celtics could have bigger improvements than most people expect.
Payton Pritchard knows he will learn from Mike Conley
Over the years, Pritchard's role has shifted from being a seldom-used guard. He has become one of the most explosive players on the Celtics as he progressed. Now, Pritchard has cemented himself as one of the mainstays of the Celtics roster, which could mean he will be a long-term starter.
With Conley on the roster, he will be learning how to play more of a point guard role. He already did well in the 2025-26 season, as he averaged 5.2 assists per game to go along with his 17 points a night for the Celtics.
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Conley's basketball IQ can translate to his teammates, as seen with Anthony Edwards' growth on the Minnesota Timberwolves in recent years. Now, Pritchard can be the next beneficiary of Conley's mentorship, which is a big deal for a Boston team that wants more talent around Jayson Tatum.
"Obviously, I look up to Mike and the career he's had...He's somebody I will take a lot of things from and hopefully have a great friendship and mentorship with," Pritchard said about Conley to Rob Manning of CLNS Media.
It will be interesting to see how Pritchard adjusts to a new role because the Celtics are not seen as the biggest contender anymore. That leaves an opportunity to pull off some surprises, and Pritchard is ready to lead this tam alongside Derrick White, Tatum, and George.
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