Boston Celtics' $6,696,429 role player on course to dethrone Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic

Steph Curry and Nikola Jokic have had the two best top shot-making seasons in the past 15 seasons. However, the two NBA greats are in danger of getting dethroned by Boston Celtics role player and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Payton Pritchard.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Todd Whitehead of Synergy Basketball shared a graphic showing Pritchard's historic shooting season. The Celtics guard is shooting excellently from beyond the arc, dribble jumpers, open catch-and-shoot threes, and most surprisingly, at the rim.

"Put it all together, and he's on pace to record the best shot-making seasons of the past 15 years," Whitehead tweeted.

Based on Synergy Basketball's Top Shot-Making Seasons stat, 2015-16 Steph Curry and 2022-23 Nikola Jokic had the best seasons of the past 15 years. Curry and Jokic's other seasons, as well as Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, are part of the elite company.

Payton Pritchard is averaging 16.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game for the defending champs, with shooting splits of 48/43/84. He's one of the favorites to win the Sixth Man of the Year, as well as a potential candidate in the Most Improved Player of the Year race.

However, Todd Whitehead clarified that Pritchard might not qualify at the end of the season, as the requirement is taking at least 1,000 shots. The Boston Celtics guard is on pace to attempt 931, which would falll shy of the eligibility number.

"Technically, he's on pace to take 931 FGA, so he wouldn't quite qualify for this leaderboard. But, c'mon, get in the holiday spirit," Whitehead tweeted.

If Jrue Holiday or Derrick White gets unlucky with injuries, the $6,696,429 man could get a chance to increase his shot attempts. But that could also affect his efficiency, as more shots might lead to more misses. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-2 guard is having a great season for the reigning champions.

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Nikola Jokic having another MVP season, Steph Curry numbers are down

Nikola Jokic having another MVP season, Steph Curry numbers are down. (Photo: IMAGN)

There's no denying that Nikola Jokic and Steph Curry are two of the best players in the world. Jokic has won three of the last four MVPs and won the championship in 2023.

Curry, meanwhile, is in his late 30s but remains a great player, although his numbers are down this season. He didn't have his usual offseason, as he participated in his first Olympics, winning the gold with Team USA in Paris.

Jokic, meanwhile, is on another historic tear for the Denver Nuggets, and advanced stats show just how much the team needs him on the floor in every minute of the game. The Warriors are at a crossroads, as their hot start to the season has been marred by losing streaks, poor games and bad rotations.