Your Daily NBA Basketball Briefing

Celtics Secure Payton Pritchard with $44.2M Extension Amidst Preseason Action

• The Boston Celtics and guard Payton Pritchard finalized a two-year, $44.2 million contract extension on October 13, 2026. This agreement comes after Pritchard's career-best performance last season, where he averaged 17 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds, starting 50 games and significantly increasing his offensive role. His touches per game saw the second-largest increase among players with at least 4,000 touches across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons.

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• Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo became eligible for a contract extension on October 1, 2026, but is strategically waiting to sign. By delaying the extension until January or the 2027 offseason, Antetokounmpo could potentially sign a deal worth an additional $82 million, illustrating the complex financial considerations for star players under current league rules.

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• Kawhi Leonard delivered a dominant performance in his preseason debut for the Toronto Raptors, marking a strong return to action. His first game back included sinking a three-pointer, demonstrating his immediate impact and readiness to integrate with the team.

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