2025-26 Season
PAYTON PRITCHARD
2025-26 Season
PAYTON PRITCHARD
Pritchard produces at an elite rate for a 32-minute workload.
Pritchard produces at an elite rate for a 32-minute workload.
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 14 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 246 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Payton Pritchard’s sudden elevation to a full-time starting role created a wildly volatile stretch defined by blindingly green lights and erratic efficiency. When his jumper was falling, he looked like a legitimate offensive engine. Look no further than 11/30 vs CLE, where he erupted for 42 points on 15/22 shooting, generating a massive +33.5 impact score by simply shooting the opposition out of the gym. Yet, that same aggressive shot selection often became a glaring liability on cold nights. During a dismal 11/09 vs ORL matchup, Pritchard forced up bricks to finish with just 5 points, suffering a -16.5 impact score as his empty possessions derailed the offensive flow. He did occasionally find ways to add value when his outside shot vanished, like on 10/22 vs PHI. Despite clanking his way to a 1/7 mark from beyond the arc for an inefficient 16 points, he still ground out a +6.6 impact score through relentless point-of-attack defense and loose-ball hustle.
This midseason stretch was defined by a highly successful role change, as Payton Pritchard transitioned from an erratic starting point guard into a lethal bench sparkplug. He flashed an immense ceiling early in the block, tearing apart the defense on 12/21 vs TOR with 33 points and 10 assists to post a massive +31.2 Impact score. However, the starting gig also exposed his passive tendencies against physical matchups. This was glaringly obvious on 01/16 vs MIA, when he attempted just four shots for two points and sank to a -7.2 Impact score because his hesitation completely stalled the offense. Moving to the second unit in early February unlocked his scoring aggression, but he also learned to survive his off nights. Look at his performance on 02/08 vs NYK. Despite shooting a dismal 2-for-9 for a mere six points, he still scratched out a +2.3 Impact score by generating seven assists and relentlessly hounding ball-handlers to create defensive stops.
This stretch was defined by extreme, whiplash-inducing volatility as a microwave scorer. He looked completely unguardable during the 02/22 vs LAL matchup, pouring in 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting to generate a massive +22.1 impact score. Yet that offensive magic vanished entirely during a brutal 03/04 vs CHA tilt. He laid a goose egg on 0-for-6 shooting that night, suffering a catastrophic -18.1 impact score due to forced, contested jumpers and zero playmaking presence. Even when his point totals looked respectable, hidden costs occasionally dragged down his overall value. Take the 03/20 vs MEM contest. Despite scoring 19 points, he posted a -1.7 impact score because of highly inefficient 5-for-13 chucking and costly defensive lapses that surrendered easy buckets on the other end.
Wild volatility and the hidden costs of a shoot-first mentality defined this late-season stretch for Payton Pritchard. Even when his raw scoring numbers looked sharp, his underlying metrics often painted a grim picture. During the Mar 20 vs MEM matchup, he poured in 19 points but registered a brutal -11.5 impact score because his terrible early-clock shot selection actively sabotaged the team's offensive rhythm. He could still flip a game single-handedly when his jumper caught fire, as seen on Mar 27 vs ATL when he dropped 36 points and earned a stellar +8.5 impact by absolutely torching the opponent's drop coverage from beyond the arc. Sometimes, pure effort had to bridge the gap. On Mar 16 vs PHX, he managed a +3.0 impact despite committing seven turnovers because his relentless energy and elite hustle plays (+11.8 hustle score) kept his head above water. Ultimately, this twenty-game run revealed a guard whose explosive offensive bursts were constantly fighting a tug-of-war against his own erratic decision-making.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Very consistent. Pritchard posts positive impact in 77% of games — you almost always get a productive night. Scoring varies by ~9 points, but the overall contribution stays positive.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 57% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Good defender on his best nights, but it comes and goes. Some games Pritchard locks in defensively, others he gets picked apart.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 12 games. Longest cold streak: 2 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY ⚠ Updated 46 days ago
Based on 71 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
87 games played
