BOSTON — Two years ago, Payton Pritchard was so frustrated with his Celtics role that he requested a trade.

Now, he’s both a vital member of a championship-winning roster and, in the eyes of NBA awards voters, the best bench player in the league.

Pritchard was recognized Tuesday as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for the 2024-25 season, beating out fellow finalists Malik Beasley and Ty Jerome. He received 82 out of 100 first-place votes.

The announcement was unsurprising, as the 27-year-old guard had long been viewed as the favorite to win the award. Pritchard led the NBA in points (1,079) and plus/minus (plus-428) off the bench during the regular season while also ranking in the top 10 among reserves in assists (third), steals (T-sixth) and offensive rebounds (10th).

“(I’m most proud of) my consistency game in, game out,” Pritchard said earlier Tuesday, before the winner was revealed. “Just limiting overall bad games, I’m proud of that. Just my efficiency shooting-wise I think has been really good this year, and just every summer finding different ways to get better and better and elevate my game, especially in the playoffs. And then hopefully next year comes, and I elevate it again.”

The Sixth Man of the Year receives the John Havlicek Trophy, named after the Celtics legend.

Pritchard became the fourth Boston player to win the award, joining Kevin McHale (1983-84, ’84-85), Bill Walton (1985-86) and Malcolm Brogdon (2022-23). Fittingly, it was Brodgon’s 2023 departure that allowed Pritchard to cement himself as a core member of head coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation.

After Boston traded Brodgon and starting guard Marcus Smart in franchise-altering deals for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, Pritchard went from appearing in 48 games in 2022-23 to all 82 last season. He posted career highs in most statistical categories, including points, assists, rebounds and minutes per game, and hit one of the biggest shots of the Celtics’ championship run: a halftime buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt in the NBA Finals clincher against Dallas.

Pritchard then improved in all of those metrics this season (14.3 points, 3.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 0.9 steals per game), emerging as not just the NBA’s most productive bench player, but also one of its most dangerous perimeter shooters, full stop.

Only Anthony Edwards, Beasley, Stephen Curry and Celtics teammate Derrick White made more 3-pointers than Pritchard’s 255, and of the 39 players who attempted at least 450 3s, just three made them at a higher rate than his 40.7%. Pritchard’s 62.0% effective field-goal percentage and 63.3% true shooting percentage were the best of his career by wide margins, and both ranked in the top 10 among qualified guards.

Boston’s smallest rotation player at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Pritchard credited the growth of his game to his work ethic, which included hours of 1-on-1 drills during the Celtics’ offseason.

“I just don’t think you can accomplish anything at the highest of levels unless you give it your all,” he said. “… I remember there was a Steve Nash quote and he was like, ‘I wouldn’t be in the position I am today if guys worked as hard as (I) did.’ He’s a little, 6-foot-2 white person, whatever, probably shouldn’t be what he was, but he outworked everybody. There’s people with a lot more gifts that are less like hardworking people, so that’s a pet peeve of mine. And that’s what I strive to be: the hardest worker.”

The Oregon product hit six or more 3-pointers in nine games this season (tied for fifth-most in the league), including a 10-for-16, 43-point, 10-rebound, five-assist tour de force in a March 6 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Veteran big man Al Horford pointed to the Portland game, in which Pritchard fell one 3-pointer shy of the Celtics’ single-game franchise record, as an example of his unselfishness and team-first attitude. Horford also echoed Mazzulla’s frequent praise for Pritchard’s improved on-ball defense and well-rounded play, and he had no qualms about congratulating his teammate hours before the award announcement.

“I’m just so proud of Payton and the job that he’s done,” Horford said. “His consistency with his work ethic and how hard he works and how he’s taken care of his body, how he took the challenge on this year and trying to take us getting to another level, not only on the offensive end, but defensively, it’s remarkable to see. Just being put in different positions and trying to figure it out. There were certain games, a few games this year, where he could’ve gone and scored a lot more and chased records and done things like that. … Instead of going for him, he’s making an extra pass, which is the right thing to do. He’s passing up a three and getting a two when he has a chance to break the three-point record. He plays the right way, and I’m just so impressed by the way he’s been able to handle everything and how he gets himself ready to compete at that level.

“I don’t think it’s any secret. I don’t want to jump the gun, but I’m just very happy for Payton.”

Pritchard was an impact player at both ends in Game 1 of Boston’s first-round playoff series against Orlando, scoring 19 points in his first 18 minutes to help offset quieter outings by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Porzingis. The Celtics might need him to carry more of the scoring load Wednesday night if Tatum’s wrist injury, which he suffered on a controversial flagrant foul late in Sunday’s win at TD Garden, sidelines or limits the All-NBA superstar.

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