For the sixth time in the last four years an Oregon Duck heard his name called during the NBA Draft.
Former Oregon point guard Payton Pritchard had his name called in the first round Wednesday night by NBA commissioner Adam Silver when the Boston Celtics used the 26th overall pick on the West Linn native.
With the 26th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics select Payton Pritchard, from the University of Oregon.
#GoDucks | #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/YNMxdytnmW— Oregon Men’s Basketball (@OregonMBB) November 19, 2020
Pritchard was projected by many media outlets as a second round selection, but he must have made an impression on another Oregon-native, Celtics GM Danny Ainge.
Ainge, a former North Eugene standout, called Pritchard mature and a terrific shooter. Pritchard told reporters he’s excited to get after it in the NBA.
Here’s Payton Pritchard, explaining to #Celtics fans what he’s bringing to the team pic.twitter.com/EqboX4mVvN
— AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) November 19, 2020
Pritchard is the most recent first round selection from Oregon since 2018, when Troy Brown Jr. went 15th overall to Washington.
Meanwhile, former Oregon State standouts Tres Tinkle and Kylor Kelly both went undrafted last night and will now try to find a home with a team as a free agent.
