Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, And Jayson Tatum Breaking Celtics Team Record For Threes In The Same Season Is Absolutely Historic
When you think of the Boston Celtics and their rich history, you think of Bill Russell’s championships, Larry Bird’s greatness, Paul Pierce’s clutch shots, and the relentless defensive toughness that defined multiple generations of basketball dominance. What you do not always think about is the long ball, the three-point shot that has come to define modern basketball. Yet, in today’s NBA, the Celtics have transformed into one of the league’s premier three-point shooting teams, and now three of their players—Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Jayson Tatum—have etched their names in team history by each breaking the single-season record for threes. To have one player accomplish that is impressive, to have two in the same year is rare, but to have three surpass the mark in the same season is downright historic and a testament to how the game and the Celtics have evolved.
Basketball history has changed dramatically over the years. The Celtics, one of the NBA’s flagship franchises, were once built on interior dominance, suffocating defense, and a midrange-heavy offense. Today, the team thrives on spacing, floor balance, and volume three-point shooting. Jayson Tatum, the franchise cornerstone, has been at the forefront of that transformation. A superstar capable of scoring at all three levels, Tatum’s evolution as a shooter has turned him into one of the league’s most dangerous perimeter threats. His ability to hit pull-up threes in transition, step-backs against elite defenders, and deep daggers in clutch moments has put him in rare company. This season, he has elevated his volume and accuracy to new heights, setting a personal career high in three-pointers made. More importantly, he broke the Celtics’ long-standing franchise record for threes, and yet he is not alone in that feat.
Derrick White’s story is one of perseverance and maximizing opportunity. When the Celtics traded for him, few expected him to become a key offensive weapon, much less one of the most efficient shooters in the league. Yet here he is, breaking records alongside the face of the franchise. White’s improved mechanics, confidence, and willingness to shoot without hesitation have been vital to Boston’s offensive explosion. His corner threes, his quick-trigger shots off the catch, and his composure under pressure have made him indispensable. White is not the prototypical star who dominates headlines, but his ability to seamlessly fit into the team structure while providing reliable shooting has been one of the quiet driving forces of the Celtics’ success. For him to break the franchise record for threes is proof of both individual dedication and how the Celtics have empowered their players to shoot with confidence.
Then there is Payton Pritchard, perhaps the most surprising of the three. Standing at just six feet one, Pritchard entered the league as a late first-round pick without much fanfare. But from the moment he stepped on the floor, his shooting touch was undeniable. Fans nicknamed him “Fast PP” for his quick release and fearless approach, and this year he has rewarded that faith by not just carving out a role, but by breaking records. For a player once considered a backup guard buried behind stars, to rise to the level of a record-breaking shooter says everything about his work ethic and determination. Pritchard has thrived in a system that values spacing, and his ability to knock down threes from anywhere on the court has turned him into one of the most valuable bench weapons in the NBA. To think that a player of his stature, in both role and size, would break the Celtics’ record for threes in the same season as Tatum and White, almost sounds unbelievable.
The fact that White, Pritchard, and Tatum all accomplished this in the same season speaks volumes about the Celtics’ offensive philosophy and their adaptability to the modern game. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has preached spacing, tempo, and volume from beyond the arc, and it is paying off in historic fashion. The Celtics are not just shooting more threes; they are making them at a record pace. What makes this achievement even crazier is the context: the Celtics are not just jacking up threes recklessly, they are doing so while winning, dominating opponents, and looking like a serious championship contender. It is one thing for a rebuilding team to let its shooters fire away, but when a team with championship aspirations is able to break records in efficiency and volume, it shows a level of balance that few in NBA history can match.
For the fans, this season will be remembered as more than just wins and losses. It will be remembered as the season three players simultaneously redefined what it means to be a shooter in green and white. Tatum is expected to break records because of his stardom, but White and Pritchard doing it alongside him represents something larger: the Celtics are no longer dependent on one man’s greatness. They are a machine with multiple weapons, all capable of lighting up the scoreboard. This makes them harder to guard, harder to prepare for, and far more dangerous when it comes to playoff basketball. Imagine trying to stop Tatum when you also have to worry about White drilling a corner three and Pritchard sprinting off a screen for a quick catch-and-shoot bomb. Defenses are left with impossible choices, and that has been the Celtics’ advantage all season long.
Statistically, the accomplishment is staggering. To put it into perspective, for decades the Celtics’ three-point records were modest compared to today’s game. Legends like Larry Bird and Paul Pierce were great shooters, but they never had the sheer volume of attempts modern players have. Pierce held the franchise mark for years, but today, Tatum, White, and Pritchard have shattered it, all in the same campaign. The NBA has seen an evolution where teams sometimes hit more threes in a week than entire teams did in a season during the 1980s, but that does not diminish what these three Celtics have done. Records are relative to their time, and breaking them still carries immense weight. It shows that the Celtics are not just keeping up with the times—they are setting the standard.
Another fascinating layer to this story is how these three players represent different archetypes of shooters. Tatum is the superstar scorer who can create his own shot against any defense. White is the versatile role player who thrives within the system and punishes defenses when left open. Pritchard is the undersized spark plug who comes off the bench and changes games with his energy and shooting. Together, they form a trio that highlights the diverse ways teams can weaponize the three-point shot. It is not just about one type of shooter anymore; it is about variety, adaptability, and volume. The Celtics now have all three.
As the season pushes toward the playoffs, the implications of this historic shooting season cannot be ignored. Boston’s identity is built on defense and ball movement, but the three-point shot is what gives them their knockout punch. With three record-breaking shooters, the Celtics can weather cold nights from one or two players because they always have a third option waiting to catch fire. That depth of shooting is rare and dangerous, and it gives the Celtics an edge against any opponent. Championship runs are often defined by timely shooting, and Boston now has three players who have proven they can deliver at historic levels.
Looking back decades from now, fans and historians will point to this season as a turning point. It is one thing to have a superstar break a shooting record, but it is another level of history when three players do it in unison. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Jayson Tatum have not just broken records—they have redefined Celtics basketball for the modern era. Their names will now forever be etched alongside the greats, not just for their individual contributions, but for the shared moment of rewriting what was thought possible in Boston.
The Celtics are chasing banner number 18, and while defense, leadership, and teamwork will all play a role, it is the three-point shot that may ultimately carry them to the promised land. Thanks to White, Pritchard, and Tatum, Boston has shown the world that history can be rewritten, even in one of the most storied franchises in sports. For fans who grew up watching Pierce’s step-backs or Bird’s iconic jumpers, this new era is different but equally thrilling. It is faster, higher volume, and more explosive. And in this era, three Celtics have accomplished something never before seen in the history of the team: breaking the record for threes together, in the same season, creating a story that is as crazy as it is unforgettable.
