The Boston Celtics took Game 3 of their 2025 NBA Playoffs second round series against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Saturday as Payton Pritchard, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White starred for Boston.
The Celtics' big win gave coach Joe Mazzulla's team a chance to even up the series at two games each heading into Monday night's contest against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Following the game, longtime Celtics fan and former ESPN analyst Bill Simmons took to his X account to sing the praises of Pritchard, the former Oregon Ducks guard who has become a weapon off the bench for Boston.
His comments were met with stiff resistance from former Nets star and NBA broadcaster Richard Jefferson, who had a long list of comments for Simmons on Sunday.
Payton Pritchard of the Celtics goes up with the ball against Miles McBride and Karl Anthony-Towns of the Knicks on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Simmons took issue with Pritchard's lack of publicity from ESPN to which Jefferson sharply replied.
"I know ESPN didn't mention it for almost 2 hours - but that was a superb Pritchard game," Simmons said.
"Played 18 huge mins in first half. They really need him today," Simmons added.
Jefferson called out Simmons right off the bat, saying 'Pritch Please' as he shared his list of grievances with the podcaster.
He also appeared to invite himself on 'The Bill Simmons Podcast.'
Jefferson led the Nets to the 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals during his time in New Jersey alongside Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles and others.
He played his college ball at Arizona before his NBA career, which was followed by a transition into the broadcast booth.
