During his successful tenure with the Boston Celtics, Jrue Holiday built a reputation as one of the NBA’s premier defensive guards.
While fans might expect his toughest defensive challenges to come from superstars like Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, Holiday recently revealed a surprising answer that sheds new light on the team’s practice dynamics.
Who is Jrue Holiday’s Toughest Defensive Challenge?
Despite Tatum and Brown being widely recognized as the Celtics’ top players, Holiday named an unexpected teammate as his most difficult matchup. During a recent interview with Run It Back, Holiday was asked which player on his former team gave him the most trouble defensively. His answer caught many off guard: Payton Pritchard.
“It might be Payton. There’s this drill that we have where like you gotta go up against Payton full court. He just be going crazy. Speed, handle, low to the ground so he could body you. Stops on a dime, then he shoots…,” said Holiday.
Holiday’s reasoning highlights Pritchard’s unique skill set, which makes him particularly challenging in one-on-one situations. The combination of speed, ball-handling ability, and low center of gravity creates problems even for elite defenders like Holiday. Plus, Pritchard’s ability to change pace instantly while maintaining his shooting threat adds another layer of difficulty.
What Makes Pritchard’s Impact Greater Than His Numbers Suggest?
While Pritchard averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists during the 2024-25 season, his influence extended far beyond those statistics.
Those moments when Pritchard caught fire and led Boston in scoring became defining stretches of their playoff campaign. Holiday praised these explosive scoring bursts and remembered the incredible long-distance shots that have become Pritchard’s trademark throughout his career.
The revelation that Pritchard dominated the team’s full-court one-on-one drill provides fascinating insight into what happens behind closed doors during Celtics practices. Since these sessions remain private and no footage is available, fans never knew about Pritchard’s dominance in these intense individual matchups.
How Will Pritchard’s Role Change With Holiday’s Departure?
Holiday’s move to the Portland Trail Blazers creates significant opportunities for Pritchard to expand his role with Boston. After starting just three games last season while averaging 28.4 minutes per game, Pritchard now faces increased responsibility in the Celtics’ backcourt.
With Holiday no longer on the roster, Pritchard will team with Derrick White to handle Boston’s backcourt duties. This partnership takes on even greater importance considering Tatum’s injury situation, as he’s expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season.
The circumstances mean Pritchard and other role players must step up and prove themselves capable of carrying larger loads. This represents the perfect opportunity for Pritchard to show that his practice dominance can translate into expanded regular-season and playoff contributions for the defending champions.