The Boston Celtics clawed their way back into contention in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, taking a commanding Game 3 win against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. With standout performances from Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and bench spark Payton Pritchard, Boston now heads into Monday night’s Game 4 with the chance to even the series at 2-2.
Pritchard, a former Oregon Ducks standout, lit up the court with energy and precision, giving coach Joe Mazzulla’s squad a major lift. But his contributions didn’t come with the kind of media buzz some feel he deserved—especially from ESPN. That’s where Bill Simmons, the popular sports podcaster and lifelong Celtics fan, stepped in.
Simmons took to X (formerly Twitter) after the game to vent his frustration over the lack of attention paid to Pritchard’s performance. “I know ESPN didn’t mention it for almost 2 hours—but that was a superb Pritchard game,” he posted. “Played 18 huge mins in first half. They really need him today.”
Enter Richard Jefferson, the former NBA forward turned broadcaster, who didn’t waste any time responding with sharp wit and criticism. “Pritch Please,” Jefferson fired back, mocking Simmons’ comments and implying he was exaggerating the situation.
Jefferson, who famously led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, appeared both annoyed and amused by Simmons’ complaints. He didn’t stop at social media jabs either—he hinted at a potential appearance on Simmons’ podcast, adding another layer of playful tension between the two.
Jefferson’s deep NBA pedigree, built at the University of Arizona and across an impressive pro career, has given him both insight and confidence as an analyst. He wasn’t shy about using his platform to call out what he saw as biased fandom from Simmons, who previously worked for ESPN himself.
While Simmons praised Pritchard’s unsung heroics, Jefferson made it clear that media coverage isn’t always about the box score—sometimes, narratives evolve based on bigger playoff storylines. Regardless, the moment sparked a viral debate among NBA fans and media watchers, bringing added attention to a role player who’s quietly been making waves in the postseason.
