How Mike Conley Can Help Payton Pritchard Take Next Step With Celtics image
A little more than two months after signing with the Celtics, Mike Conley is already leaving an imprint on his new employers.
The veteran guard agreed terms to a one-year, $3.9 million contract with Boston in July. At 38 years old, Conley isn't expected to have too much of an impact on the floor. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists in 54 games with the Timberwolves last year, both of which were career-lows.
And yet, Conley still figures to have significant influence on the Celtics' daily operations. He is already aiding in the development of one player tipped for stardom after the Jaylen Brown trade: Payton Pritchard.
Here's what you need to know.
How Mike Conley Can Help Payton Pritchard Take Next Step With Celtics
Conley revealed that he and Pritchard have already made an impression on one another. They share the floor regularly, conducting joint workouts with one another.
"Me and Payton work a lot," Conley said during his introductory presser, per Boston Sports Journal's Jack Simone. "One-on-one with our workouts. Before practice or before five-on-five, we play [or] hoop or whatever, and we're talking the game all the time. Like, 'I should shoot a floater, you should shoot a mid range shot. Different things that complement his game might not complement mine."
Pritchard is expected to play a leading role in Joe Mazzulla's attack following Brown's departure. The 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year could learn a thing or two from Conley, a consummate professional who has subverted notions about the viability of small guards to string together a glittering 19-year career.
Conley knows that he is unlikely to displace Pritchard in Boston's lineup. While the Ohio State product still believes he has something to contribute to the Celtics on the floor, he acknowledged that he will relish the chance to impart his wisdom upon Boston's guards — a unit spearheaded by Pritchard.
“I still got a lot left," Conley said. "I still can do it on the court off the court but leadership is one thing I know I can bring.”
If he can help propel Pritchard towards the upper echelons of NBA guards, Conley will represent money well-spent for the C's in 2026-27.
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