The Boston Celtics know this season is going to be tough without Jayson Tatum, but they haven’t lost all hope.
In fact, there are reasons to believe that 2025-26 could actually be productive, especially for a few stars.
Payton Pritchard might be on the verge of a huge season, according to NBA University.
They compared his minutes with and without Tatum and saw that he actually does better without the Celtics superstar by his side.
With Tatum, Pritchard has averaged 16.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 4.9 rebounds.
Without Tatum, those numbers have changed to 22.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.5 rebounds.
Payton Pritchard with & without Jayson Tatum on the court per 75 last season…
Opportunity for a monster statistical season pic.twitter.com/9UA8Kccgd7
— NBA University (@NBA_University) October 6, 2025
The Celtics will need everyone to dig deep and try harder in the new year.
Losing Tatum is a massive blow, but it’s not the only setback the team is facing.
Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday are all gone, which means the team is going to look radically different from what it was last year.
This could be a big opportunity for players like Pritchard.
Last season, he was a hugely beneficial asset to the team, averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists and earning Sixth Man of the Year.
With Tatum off the court, he will have the chance to do even more, gaining more minutes and putting up more points.
No one thinks that losing Tatum is a good thing, but it will present a chance for some other Celtics players to leave a mark.
Pritchard has already shown his importance again and again, but 2025-26 could be his biggest season, one that transforms him from a bench breakout to a certified superstar.
NEXT: Payton Pritchard Has Honest Admission About Thunder's Playoff Run
