Two years ago, Payton Pritchard was on the fringes of Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla's rotation.
But over the course of last season, when Boston won its 18th NBA title, and this year, when the Celtics are hoping to repeat for the first time since Bill Russell was in uniform, Pritchard has been a constant source of energy and production off the bench -- a role that was recognized by the league's awards voters when they bestowed Pritchard with the league's Sixth Man of the Year honor.
"I feel like every year, you get a little bit better," Pritchard said earlier Tuesday, before being officially given the award Tuesday night.