Warriors’ Gary Payton II playing his way into permanent rotation role
The Golden State Warriors, as the preseason winded down, didn’t seem to have much interest in keeping either Gary Payton II or Avery Bradley.
Bradley was older and has been consistently injured these past few seasons, making waiving him a relatively easy move. As veterans vouched for Bradley, letting him go was surely a tough decision.
The Golden State Warriors are giving explosive shooting guard Gary Payton II quality minutes, and he’s doing anything but disappointing them.
They actually waived Payton II and signed him back as the roster’s 15th man just four days later. Let’s just say they are not regretting that move. Payton came up huge in Thursday night’s victory over the Charlotte Hornets, a team that was 5-3 entering the event.
His season isn’t defined by this one performance, but he has been thriving in his role.
Having played in all 7 games as the team’s last signing is relatively impressive by itself. On top of just getting minutes, Payton is averaging 4.3 points per game. That figure really doesn’t do Payton’s impact justice as he’s nearing 20 points per 36 minutes.
On top of that, it’s been his defense that’s been the key bright spot for the young stud. Per basketball-reference, Payton has a 120 offensive rating and a 94 defensive rating. It’s almost impossible to sustain that for a season.
Against the Hornets, Payton went for 14 points in 17 minutes, an absolutely posterizing slam dunk on former Warrior Kelly Oubre Jr., and 3 steals. It was easily his most impressive game of the season.
Given his work on the defensive end this season, Payton II will justify having some part in Steve Kerr‘s rotation for the majority of the season. You can’t be on the bench and be capable of defending at the level he is.
Even Klay Thompson noticed!
I can watch Gary Payton II play defense all night long
— klay thompson (@KlayThompson) November 4, 2021
Considering the Warriors have Moses Moody, Jordan Poole, Damion Lee and seemingly were going to retain Mychal Mulder as well, it was weird that Payton II would’ve even been considered for the last roster spot.
However, with Lee’s shooting, the Dubs opted for Payton’s defense over Mulder’s shooting, and I don’t think they could be happier with that decision.
The son of a Hall of Famer who averaged over a steal per game for 15 straight seasons, Payton II comes from a good family line of defensive-minded players. While his father was also efficient and dominant offensively, Payton has shown ability as a shooter as well.
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Overall, his recent play will earn him a spot in the rotation, and he’s certainly going to be a player most Warriors fans look forward to watching play after his most recent performance.