Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Hails Mike Conley Jr. as ‘Freak’ Veteran Presence After Blowout Win Over Bulls

Boston’s TD Garden witnessed a statement victory Monday night as the Celtics dismantled the Chicago Bulls 134-99, improving to 2-1 on the young season. While Payton Pritchard’s 28-point explosion stole the statistical spotlight, his postgame comments about newly acquired veteran Mike Conley Jr. revealed the deeper significance of Boston’s latest roster addition.

Pritchard’s Glowing Assessment of Conley’s Impact

“Just an unbelievable person. Obviously still in unbelievable shape for his age,” Pritchard told reporters, per Zack Cox of Boston.com . “I was telling him after one of the back taps he had, I’m like, ‘You look like a DB still.’ Like, he’s just a freak.”

The compliment carries weight coming from Pritchard, who has shared the court with elite talent during his Celtics tenure. But the 26-year-old guard emphasized that Conley’s value transcends physical attributes. ...