Usually, top-100 player rankings keep us busy during the summer as we all crave hot topics to discuss and debate. However, [_The Ringer_ just updated its list](https://nbarankings.theringer.com/), and the [Celtics](https://www.celticsblog.com) have a new member: Payton Pritchard.
Zach Kram, one of _The Ringer_’s long-standing writers, broke the news yesterday with the updated rankings. After a great start to the season, Payton Pritchard has earned his place on the prestigious list. For each player, _The Ringer_ assigns badges, similar to NBA 2K. Pritchard’s first Top 100 badges are: “Spacer,” “Movement Shooter,” and “Hustle.” Right on target.
### **Pace and Space**
A great recent example of Payton Pritchard as a “spacer” came in the Celtics’ last game against Memphis, where he played the entire fourth quarter, replacing Jrue Holiday, whom the Grizzlies treated as a non-shooter. Why? As Danny Chau writes:
> “Pritchard has solidified himself as one of the preeminent movement shooters in the league and has leveraged his off-ball gravity in other Curry-esque ways.”
Indeed, Pritchard’s off-ball movement is both vicious and impactful, complementing his shooting performances this season. The two are, of course, correlated — but he consistently outruns his matchup, creating chaos with his relentless movement. Another underrated skill of Pritchard’s is his ability to set screens.
Whether in simple pick-and-pop actions or Spain pick-and-roll sets, his strong legs and upper body disrupt defenses. Moreover, he can sprint into open space beyond the three-point line immediately after setting a screen, further stretching defenses.
### **Hustle**
Pritchard might be perceived as merely a “shooter,” but his offensive game has another underappreciated layer: rebounding, specifically his ability to grab offensive rebounds. Over his first few NBA seasons, he ranked in the top 20% of guards in offensive rebounding, according to _Cleaning the Glass_. Even more impressively, the Celtics as a team grab more offensive rebounds with him on the floor.
Last season, the Celtics’ offensive rebound rate increased by +8.3% when Pritchard was on the court — a figure that placed him in the 98th percentile among guards. This stat underscores his commitment to doing whatever it takes to help his team. From being a star at Oregon to becoming a deadly NBA shooter, Pritchard has added an invaluable ability to turn missed shots into extra opportunities for the Celtics.
Perhaps this success is contextual? As Chau notes:
> “Is he mainly a beneficiary of all the attention that every other Celtics star on the floor draws? Of course he is. But he’s flawlessly playing the hand he’s been dealt, and in a way that enhances the quality of play of everyone around him.”
Regardless, in the Celtics’ historically potent offense, Pritchard is playing his role perfectly, continuing to prove the doubters wrong.