Payton Pritchard joins an exclusive club with 500th career 3-pointer

Payton Pritchard joins an exclusive club with 500th career 3-pointer originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Payton Pritchard isn’t just one of the best 3-point shooters in the NBA this season. He is one of the best shooters in Boston Celtics history.

Pritchard led the C’s with 27 points on 7-of-15 shooting from deep Thursday’s victory of 123-99 over the Detroit Pistons. During the game, he made his 500th 3-pointer to become the 10th Celtics player ever to reach this milestone. (He finished the night at 502.)

Pritchard also became the first player in C’s history to record at least 25 points, 10 assists and five 3-pointers off the bench.

The names surrounding Pritchard on the list above speak volumes for the Oregon product’s 3-point prowess. He will soon pass Avery Bradley (520) for ninth on the 3-pointers list, and Bradley played in 413 games for the C’s. Thursday marked Pritchard’s 291st game.

Just above Pritchard and Bradley are Al Horford (639) and Larry Bird (649). Suffice to say, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year front-runner is in pretty solid company.

Pritchard is the one odds-on favorite for sixth man of the year averaging 16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 48.8 percent (43.2 percent from 3) through 24 games. After Thursday’s win, he shared his thoughts on potentially winning the prestigious award.

“It’s not something I really think about,” he said. “If I’m lucky enough to win, I think it’s a testament to the hard work I’ve put in. I think it just means that I’m helping this team come off the bench and do my job on a high level.

“So it’s not something I like if I don’t win or win, it’s not something that makes or breaks for me. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. But yeah, it would be an honor.”

Pritchard will look to stay hot when the C’s visit the Washington Wizards this Sunday. Tip-off is set for 6:00 PM ET on NBC Sports Boston.