With one week to go until the regular-season opener on Oct. 20 in Detroit, the Boston Celtics have taken care of a major housekeeping item, locking up a key piece for another two years. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Celtics and guard Payton Pritchard have agreed to a two-year, $44.2-million contract extension with a mutual option for the 2029-30 season. 

The Celtics selected Pritchard with the No. 26 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the University of Oregon. After averaging 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 15.7 minutes per game, shooting 43 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range off the bench in his first three seasons, Boston rewarded their young guard with a four-year, $30-million extension ahead of the 2023-24 season. 

After signing the extension, Pritchard has taken on an elevated role in each season with Boston. The then-26-year-old averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 46.8 percent from the field, helping the Celtics win their 18th NBA title in franchise history in 2024. He followed up the championship season by averaging 14.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 28.4 minutes off the bench, earning him the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2024-25. 

After an offseason trade sent guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, Pritchard posted a career year in 2025-26 as he took on a starting role. In 79 games in 2025-26, the 28-year-old guard averaged 17 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, shooting 46.4 percent from the field. Earning just $7.23 million for the season, Pritchard was one of the best-value players in the NBA. 

Pritchard will continue to be under contract at incredible value for the Celtics for the next two seasons under his current deal, making $7.76 million in 2026-27 and $8.3 million in 2027-28. Tuesday's extension, which will pay him an average of $22.07 million per year, will not kick in until the current deal expires after the 2027-28 season. 

With the extension out of the way, Pritchard and the Celtics will continue to prepare for the Oct. 20 opener in Detroit against the Pistons. The Celtics will put their perfect 2-0 preseason record to the test on Wednesday night as they host the Charlotte Hornets in the third game of the four-game preseason schedule. Tip-off from the TD Garden is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.