Many NBA players spend the summer staying in shape by taking part in Pro-Am leagues or in the traditional training sessions at UCLA. Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, however, has chosen a different path that has turned him into one of the team’s most valuable pieces.

Pritchard explained that during the offseason he pays friends who play professionally in European leagues to defend him as hard as possible in one-on-one games. He said he brings them in for a week, houses them wherever he is, and plays five-point games where the defenders earn money if they get a set number of stops, though he joked they don’t win much.

This training method began in 2020, when he started inviting European professionals, college players, and former teammates to Massachusetts, paying them for a full week solely to serve as his practice defenders.

Pritchard said he goes through between 300 and 500 live possessions, which gives him real defensive competition. Since those players are talented and play overseas, they come to compete, and because he pays them, he feels he has to demand their best effort. He added that he goes hard at them and expects the same in return, calling it a very positive experience.

The results have shown on the court. In the 2023-24 season, Pritchard went from averaging 13.4 minutes per game to 22.3, nearly doubling his scoring from 5.6 to 9.6 points. Last season was the best of his career, as he was named Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 28.4 minutes per game.

This summer he continued the tradition in Cape Cod, his favorite training spot, increasing the intensity of his workouts. His former Oregon teammate Paul Wilson recently highlighted just how demanding those one-on-one battles are as part of his preparation.

While some players use their free time to golf or travel, Pritchard keeps sharpening his game with unconventional methods. Judging by his progression, it’s clear that every sacrifice has been worth it.