Payton Pritchard on how ancient philosophy helps his offense with the Boston Celtics
"That's something I've worked a lot on," said Pritchard. "Being a smaller guard, you've got to find ways to create separation."
"I studied guys who are great at using their body and not avoiding contact but using it to your advantage," added the Oregon native. "It's become a part of my game that I lean on more and more."
As to where he turned for inspiration for the newfound bellicose style of play for Pritchard, the University of Oregon alum offered up a surprising source. "One of my coaches also recommended I read The Art of War, which got me into the mindset," he explained.
The book in question, dating from the fifth century B.P. and written in ancient China by renowned military strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu, is not light reading nor vaguely related to the sport of basketball, which it predates by roughly the same amount of time as the start of the Roman Empire in the west.
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But it is held as an example of timeless strategy in any sort of conflict that has been bent to everything from actual battlefields to corporate boardrooms, and Pritchard's deployment of it to his own improvement of a player is nothing short of intriguing. If he is looking for a new read to prime him for a challenging season ahead with Boston while Jayson Tatum nurses his torn Achilles back to health, we recommend "Letters from a Stoic" by Seneca.
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Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Bronny James, looking more ready for the NBA, should find a role with the Lakers this season
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Advertisement 'I'm definitely using my body a little more, especially [compared to] when I was first drafted last year, USC and my senior year in high school,' he said after averaging 14.3 points in four Las Vegas summer games. 'Just get reps, play 30-plus minutes. Just fill out my game. Make mistakes. 'I definitely feel like my confidence is up from last year. I feel like it's been a slow progression.' The exchange James had with Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez was interesting. They traded trash talk, but James is definitely confident in his ability to defend and use his physicality to get past defenders running the point. He complimented the 19-year-old Gonzalez but still thought he got the better of the matchup. 'Oh yeah, he's a great player,' James said. 'I always have respect for the guys who have played, so I'm not going to back down, but I have to do what I have to do, if that means I'm getting pressured full court and I have to go by him, I have to do that. So definitely felt like he couldn't keep up with me in the full court. 'But I respect him big time.' Gonzalez actually confronted James after both chased a rebound, and James said he didn't flinch. Overall it was a positive summer league experience for James, who still needs to improve his shooting and decision-making. He committed eight turnovers in the loss to the Celtics. And he shot just 30 percent from the 3-point line in the four games. But there could be a third guard role if he blends into JJ Redick's system. James's next task is to emerge as a steady floor leader and distributor. Related : Advertisement 'I just think keep on working on my game on ball, all this stuff off ball will just flow,' he said. 'But if I am consistently confident in bringing the ball up and being able to play the one when it's needed, I think I'll be good because I don't really have any problem playing off the ball if I need to. Me having the ball in my hand most of the time is really good for my development.' Bronny James (left) and LeBron James warm up before a game against the Timberwolves in October. Eric Thayer/Associated Press Wait a minute Silver holds off on expansion talk This past week in Las Vegas, there was great anticipation that commissioner Adam Silver would announce the NBA would be accepting applications for expansion, especially from Seattle basketball supporters. Silver had been delaying expansion decisions until a new CBA was ratified (happened) and a new television deal was reached into the next decade (also happened). So when he approached the media after the annual summer Board of Governors meetings, there was an expectation expansion would be a definitive plan in the near future. Two media members traveled to Las Vegas from Seattle for an anticipated announcement. Some in Seattle were expecting a potential Sonics return for the 2027-28 season. Silver not only didn't announce expansion plans, he said the league will research the viability of expansion, a serious setback for those in Seattle and Las Vegas. Silver is just as interested and intrigued in an NBA-sponsored league in Europe, a move that could bring billions to the owners, as he is expanding to 32 teams and further splitting the revenue pot. Related : 'The appetite in the room I would define more as curiosity and more let's do the work,' Silver said about the possibility of US expansion. 'I think if I were an owner, ultimately, what you're considering is, is this additive to the league. Additive can be measured in lots of different ways. There's additive economically. But from a competitive standpoint, how would particular markets impact our national footprint. Advertisement 'I think, also, how would certain owners fit in terms of the league dynamic. There's strategic value to a lot of the owners in this league. I think one of the reasons this league is doing so well is because of the collection of team owners we have right now. We have a very, very active committee process and a very engaged group.' Silver is pushing worldwide expansion, tapping into European and African markets, and it's as much of a priority as adding American teams. And the owners appear to be listening. 'I think what I find very heartening is that while they are fierce competitors on the floor, at the meetings we had, these teams and the team governors are parking individual interests and saying, all right, we're stewards of the game,' Silver said. 'As we look at these opportunities in Europe — by the way we had a discussion about the league we have in Africa now. 'It's not substitutional. It's not as if we are sitting there saying, well, if we do something in Europe, we don't do something in the United States or North America. But the issues are related. There's no question about it. Part of what we look at is how can we continue to grow this game on a global basis and how can we take advantage of the NBA brand to do that.' Advertisement The NBA has shown a desire to return to Seattle since the Sonics were bought by Oklahoma City businessmen and then relocated there in 2008. The unceremonious and contentious departure of the Sonics eventually became former commissioner David Stern's biggest regrets because of the attractive market. And the city has grown tremendously in the past 17 years. 'I understand there's particular communities that are represented here, and we're honored at the amount of interest and pleased to see that from several markets,' Silver said. 'Ultimately, what we're looking at is first and foremost, how will this impact the existing operation of the NBA, and what is it that we should be doing to continue growing interest in the game of basketball on a global basis. That's why there were domestic discussions, there were European discussions, and there were discussions about our ongoing league in Africa. 'So I think there is a significant step now in that we are now engaging in this in-depth analysis, something we weren't prepared to do before. It's really Day 1 of that analysis. So in terms of price, potential timing, too early to say.' In other words, there are no promises for expansion. Silver is not going to create time lines or make promises. The league will expand if its financially viable. 'It is truly a complicated issue,' he said. 'There was no sense in the room that people were taking sides. There was no straw poll. There was no request that people indicate pro or con in terms of expansion. There was a consensus quickly formed that the league office should do the work and work with these particular committees and the board and present that analysis.' 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When I first joined the league actually six years ago on Thursday, I was four days on the job and we had our first collective bargaining meeting at All-Star. 'I appreciated how many players came to the meeting. I thought that was great. Communication is important. Having that meeting, being at the table, was important with that scale of players. I would just say we've been through these negotiations many times. This is only my second one, but my team has been through many of them.' Related : The league's exponential growth, boosted by the entrance of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese , has been evident and impressive. And the league also will grow by seven teams by 2030 with teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, with Boston being interested in being the 19th team. But Reese and Clark, two of the league's most decorated young players, earn a combined $152,000 per season while the expansion fee for new teams is an estimated $250 million. 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So thrilled to represent them because I think they're helping lift all of women's sports and, quite frankly, girls and women in society. 'Walking behind A'ja Wilson today, how these fans are just kind of so looking up to her as such a role model I think beyond just her basketball ability.I would say the next big one is globalization, for sure.' Wilson, at $200,000 per season, is tied for the league's 20th-highest paid player. She makes exponentially more money with her Nike contract. Layups The Celtics' waiving of guard JD Davison means they are under the second apron and it perhaps gives an NBA opportunity for the hard-working G-League MVP who was hoping to get quality minutes in his fourth season. Davison was the 53rd overall pick in 2022 and spent three years with Maine before getting a standard NBA contract near the end of the regular season. Because that contract wasn't guaranteed, Davison was expendable but he's now an unrestricted free agent unless he's claimed off waivers. Davison has the skills to be a third point guard and is only 22 … The Pistons released former Celtics training camp invitee Ron Harper Jr. and replaced him with former Kings draft pick Colby Jones … Former Celtics training camp invitee Lonnie Walker IV is expected to return to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He had a stint with the 76ers last season … The Clippers are hoping Bradley Beal will revive his career and give the club a boost at shooting guard. With the addition of 40-year-old Chris Paul , the Clippers are one of the oldest teams in the league and their window to win is now. Los Angeles also added 37-year-old Brook Lopez t and re-signed Nicolas Batum , who will be 37 in December. The organizational thinking is with a healthy Kawhi Leonard and James Harden , the share of the offensive load will be balanced. And the club has enough younger bodies in Derrick Jones Jr. , Ivica Zubac , John Collins and Cam Christie to offset the age. Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 27 - Jordan Walsh (2023-25)
The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover. And for today's article, we will continue with the 13th of 13 people to wear the No. 27, Boston forward alum Jordan Walsh. After ending his college career at Arkansas, Walsh was picked up with the 38th overall selection of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Celtics. The DeSoto, Texas native has played his entire career to date with Boston, and remains with the team at the time of writing. During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Walsh wore only jersey No. 27 and put up 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference. This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics jersey history No. 27 - Jordan Walsh (2023-25)
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Boston Celtics jersey history No. 27 - Jordan Walsh (2023-25)
The Boston Celtics have had players suiting up in a total of 68 different jersey numbers (and have three others not part of any numerical series) since their founding at the dawn of the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- the league that would become today's NBA), worn by well over 500 players in the course of Celtics history. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Celtics Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. With 25 of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Celtics to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover. And for today's article, we will continue with the 13th of 13 people to wear the No. 27, Boston forward alum Jordan Walsh. After ending his college career at Arkansas, Walsh was picked up with the 38th overall selection of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Celtics. The DeSoto, Texas native has played his entire career to date with Boston, and remains with the team at the time of writing. During his time suiting up for the Celtics, Walsh wore only jersey No. 27 and put up 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
