​Insider blasts Celtics for insane Jalen Brunson comparison, originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking here. After parting ways with Jaylen Brown, reports circulated that the Boston Celtics believed they had made the correct decision because of what young guard Payton Pritchard could potentially become. Pritchard, a smaller guard who can contribute in his own right, is generally viewed as a fifth or sixth man on a strong NBA team. Yet some reports floated the idea that the Celtics saw him as a future Jalen Brunson—a notion so outlandish that it’s hard to defend after watching Brunson’s performance over the past few seasons.
The notion of comparing every small guard to Brunson feels totally ridiculous. Brunson has accomplished a lot for someone of his size, and it’s not something you can easily replicate or expect from every player. At some point, it’s reasonable to shift focus from trying to emulate Brunson to developing your own path, incorporating what you can learn from his success rather than chasing a direct copy. This sentiment was echoed by a reporter who pushed back hard against the Celtics’ rhetoric about Pritchard being the next Brunson.
“Please miss me with the Boston thinks Payton Pritchard is going to be Jalen Brunson talk. Did you just see Jalen Brunson? Just see what that dude did in the Finals? I love Payton Pritchard. He’s not going to be Jalen Brunson,” wrote Zach Lowe, via a credit to Sportsnaut. Lowe’s stance underscored a broader skepticism about framing Pritchard as a Brunson successor.
The problem with such comparisons lies in the distinct roles and skill sets that Brunson has developed. Brunson can break down defenses with ball-handling prowess and decision-making that enables him to function as a primary playmaker at times. Pritchard, meanwhile, has carved out a niche as a sharp shooter who can space the floor and contribute as a secondary creator when needed. While Pritchard’s contributions are valuable, suggesting he will mirror Brunson’s exact trajectory ignores the structural differences in their games and the teams they play for.
The Celtics’ decision to move on from Brown was widely debated, with supporters arguing that Pritchard’s potential, along with other roster moves, could shape the team’s future in a positive direction. Critics, however, warned against placing unrealistic expectations on a player who operates in a different mold from a deeply proven scorer like Brunson. The truth is that while Pritchard may develop into a solid NBA guard who can contribute meaningful minutes, predicting that he will become a duplicate of Brunson is an overreach that risks undervaluing both players’ unique strengths.
As fans and analysts continue to dissect these moves, the broader lesson remains: it’s more productive to evaluate players based on their own merits, skill sets, and fit within a team’s system rather than chasing the shadow of another player’s triumphs. The Brunson comparison, though perhaps well-intentioned as a shorthand for potential, ultimately distracts from recognizing Pritchard’s real upside and the Celtics’ actual path to rebuilding and competing in the coming seasons.
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