Payton Pritchard and Kevin Pritchard are two names that have been associated with the NBA in recent years. Payton Pritchard is a rising star for the Boston Celtics, who drafted him in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. Kevin Pritchard is a veteran executive, who is currently the president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers. But are they related? And if so, how?
The answer is no, Payton Pritchard and Kevin Pritchard are not related by blood or marriage. They do share a common surname, but that is where the similarity ends. They have different backgrounds, origins, and careers in the basketball world.
Payton Pritchard’s Biography
Payton Pritchard was born on January 28, 1998, in Tualatin, Oregon. He is the son of Terry and Melissa Pritchard, and has two older brothers, Tyler and Tanner. His father played football at Oklahoma and his mother played softball at Oklahoma State
Payton Pritchard was a basketball prodigy from an early age. He won four consecutive state titles with West Linn High School and earned multiple awards and honors, including the Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year in 2015. He was a four-star recruit who committed to play for the Oregon Ducks in 2015
At Oregon, Payton Pritchard had a stellar four-year career. He was the starting point guard for the Ducks team that reached the Final Four in 2017, and became one of the best players in the nation by his senior year. He averaged 20.5 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game in his final season, and won several accolades, including the Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in college basketball, and the Lute Olson Award for the best player in Division I. He was also a consensus first-team All-American and the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2020
Payton Pritchard entered the 2020 NBA draft as one of the most decorated players in Oregon history. He was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 26th overall pick, becoming the first Oregon player to be drafted in the first round since Aaron Brooks in 2007
In his rookie season with the Celtics, Payton Pritchard impressed many fans and analysts with his hustle, shooting, and playmaking skills. He averaged 7.7 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.1 percent from three-point range. He also had some memorable moments, such as hitting a game-winning tip-in against the Miami Heat, and scoring a career-high 28 points against the Toronto Raptors. He helped the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Brooklyn Nets in five games
Kevin Pritchard’s Biography
Kevin Pritchard was born on July 17, 1967, in Bloomington, Indiana. He is the son of Jack and Peggy Pritchard, and has two brothers, Kirk and Kelly. His father was a basketball coach who led Bloomington High School to two state championships in 1976 and 1981
Kevin Pritchard followed his father’s footsteps and became a basketball player himself. He played for Edison High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was a star point guard and a McDonald’s All-American in 1986. He then joined the Kansas Jayhawks under legendary coach Larry Brown, and became part of one of the most memorable teams in college basketball history. He was the starting point guard for the Jayhawks team that won the NCAA championship in 1988, defeating Oklahoma in what is known as “Danny and The Miracles”. He averaged 11 points and six assists per game in his senior year at Kansas, and was named to the All-Big Eight second team in 1990
Kevin Pritchard was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 34th overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft. He had a six-year NBA career with five teams: the Warriors, the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Miami Heat, and the Washington Bullets. He also played overseas in Spain, Italy, and Germany before retiring from playing in 1998
Kevin Pritchard then transitioned into coaching and management roles in basketball. He coached and managed the Kansas City Knights of the ABA from 2000 to 2002, leading them to a championship in his second season. He then joined the San Antonio Spurs as a scout in 2002, before moving to the Portland Trail Blazers as director of player personnel in 2004. He became the interim head coach of the Blazers in 2005, after Maurice Cheeks was fired, and then the assistant general manager in 2006. He was promoted to general manager in 2007, and oversaw the drafting and development of players such as Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Damian Lillard. He was fired by the Blazers in 2010, after a series of controversial moves and conflicts with ownership
Kevin Pritchard then joined the Indiana Pacers as director of player personnel in 2011, and became the general manager in 2012. He was named the president of basketball operations in 2017, after Larry Bird stepped down. He has been responsible for building competitive teams around Paul George, Victor Oladipo, and Domantas Sabonis, and making savvy trades and signings. He has also hired and fired several coaches, including Frank Vogel, Nate McMillan, Nate Bjorkgren, and Rick Carlisle
Conclusion
Payton Pritchard and Kevin Pritchard are two successful basketball figures who share a common last name, but have no familial ties. They have different paths and stories in the NBA, but both have shown passion, skill, and leadership in their respective roles. They are not related, but they are both respected and admired by many fans and peers in the basketball community.
