There’s no bench player impacting winning quite like Payton Pritchard.

On a Boston Celtics team that’s looked like a juggernaut all season, Pritchard has quietly been the engine that keeps the second unit humming. The numbers are eye-popping. The hustle is undeniable. And with the playoffs around the corner, the Sixth Man of the Year race feels over.

Vegas thinks so too: Pritchard is currently a -1500 favorite to win the award.

Pritchard hasn’t just played his role. He’s owned it. The Celtics guard has 1,019 points off the bench this season, making him just the third Celtic ever to score 1,000+ as a reserve—joining Kevin McHale (three times) and Ricky Davis.

He’s averaging 14.0 points per game on 47% shooting, 41% from three, and 75% at the rim. His assist-to-turnover ratio is among the NBA’s best, trailing only names like Chris Paul, Tyrese Haliburton, and Jimmy Butler.

But it goes beyond stats. When Boston’s starters sit, Pritchard doesn’t just hold the line—he extends the lead.

Pritchard now holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made off the bench in a season (236 and counting). He also has the second-most threes in a single season by any Celtic, passing Isaiah Thomas and trailing only Derrick White (258 and counting).