Nearly a decade ago, the hardwood at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon, was home to one of the Pac-12’s most electrifying duos. Chris Boucher, the lanky, shot-swatting Canadian forward with a relentless motor, and Payton Pritchard, the savvy freshman guard from just up the road in West Linn, Oregon, joined forces for the 2015-16 Oregon Ducks. Together, they formed a core that helped propel the Ducks to national prominence.
Fast forward to 2025, and the connection that began in college has come full circle—this time, under the bright lights of the NBA and the storied banners of TD Garden. Now teammates once again, Boucher and Pritchard wear Celtics green, reunited in Boston with bigger stakes and bolder ambitions: a championship.
Reuniting Roots
Their shared time in Eugene was brief—just one season—but it left a lasting impression. Boucher, then a junior college transfer and shot-blocking sensation, averaged 2.9 blocks per game that season, providing the Ducks with a defensive anchor and a flair for the spectacular. Pritchard, the young floor general, brought maturity beyond his years, commanding the offense and earning trust in high-leverage moments even as a freshman.
“I remember Chris changing games with his defense,” said Pritchard in a recent media session. “He’d block shots that didn’t even seem possible. Having that kind of rim protection behind you gives you so much confidence as a guard.”
Boucher, who has since carved out a niche in the NBA with his energy, versatility, and rim protection, smiled when asked about the reunion. “It’s crazy how things come around,” he said. “We had good chemistry at Oregon, and now we get to build on that in Boston. We’re both different players now, but the respect and connection are still there.”
Different Journeys, Same Destination
Since their days in Eugene, both players have taken divergent paths to the NBA spotlight. Pritchard was a four-year starter at Oregon, growing into a national player of the year candidate before being drafted by the Celtics in 2020. He has steadily developed into a reliable rotational guard, known for his toughness, deep shooting range, and relentless pace.
Boucher’s route was less conventional. Undrafted in 2017 and sidelined by injury early in his career, he climbed through the G League ranks with Toronto before eventually earning a regular role with the Raptors. Known for his hustle plays, rim protection, and occasional three-point range, Boucher became one of the league’s most dynamic energy bigs off the bench.
Their reunion in Boston—facilitated by a midseason trade that brought Boucher over from Toronto—adds another layer of intrigue to an already loaded Celtics roster. While Pritchard has long been a part of Boston’s homegrown core, Boucher brings a new dimension to the team’s frontcourt: length, athleticism, and a willingness to do the dirty work.
Built for the Celtics’ Culture
The Boston Celtics are no strangers to embracing players who thrive on grit, teamwork, and selflessness. That ethos has defined the franchise’s recent resurgence, culminating in multiple deep playoff runs and a 2024 NBA Finals appearance. Adding Boucher into that mix only strengthens a system predicated on defense, ball movement, and playing for one another.
“Chris fits our culture perfectly,” said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla. “He brings energy every time he steps on the floor, and he’s got chemistry with Payton already, which helps. They’ve been through battles together, and that shows.”
That familiarity is already evident in game situations. In limited minutes together, the Pritchard-to-Boucher connection has sparked several highlight plays—lobs in transition, perfectly timed pick-and-rolls, and help-side blocks turning into fast-break opportunities.
Chasing a New Kind of Madness
What began with March Madness aspirations in Oregon has evolved into an NBA championship pursuit. And while the stakes are different, the mindset remains the same: compete, play hard, and elevate each other.
“There’s a hunger we both have,” said Pritchard. “We didn’t finish the job back then [at Oregon], but now we’ve got a shot to do something even bigger.”
Boucher echoed the sentiment: “We were good back then. Now we’re better—and we’ve got the right team around us.”
As the Celtics gear up for another playoff run, the former Ducks turned NBA teammates are more than a feel-good reunion story. They’re key contributors to a team with title dreams, bonded by their past and fueled by a shared sense of unfinished business.
From Eugene to Boston, it’s a journey that’s come full circle—and it might just end with a ring.
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