By Brandon Simmons
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II has had an interesting journey in his career and also at the beginning of the season. The former Oregon State product has a lengthy basketball resume, mostly bouncing between the NBA and the G League. However, the guard also revealed another plot twist in his career. Tuesday, Payton spoke with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, and revealed how the opportunity to join the Warriors this season might not have arrived on the basketball court.
“They were telling me my chances were kind of low on making the team. They had a video coordinating job open and I was trying to get in that, ask for an interview in that job just to stay around the team,” said Payton, who hoped his presence would serve the team in their film room, while hoping for any spot to open up, even if it was a 10 day contract. “I just stayed with it. Next thing that happened is they got a call saying ‘We figured it out’ and I’m stayin. So no more video coordinating job.”
Payton II – son of hall-of-fame point guard Gary Payton – has had quite the NBA journey, jumping back and forth between the Association (Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors) and the G League (Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Wisconsin Herd, South Bay Lakers, Capital City Go-Go and Raptors 905). In fact, each year of his professional career he has seen time in the G League where he has made his mark as a champion (2019), a member of the All-Defensive team and a Defensive Player of the Year (2021). He managed to make the playoff rotation for Golden State in this year’s playoff run where he scored in double figures in 2 games in their first round series win. However, Payton II made the wrong end of the headlines in the Warriors’ series against the Memphis Grizzlies. He injured his elbow on a flagrant foul committed by Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks and was declared out until the NBA Finals. Payton II made his postseason return in Game 2 of the Finals in which he scored 7 points and had a plus/minus of +15.
This is truly a lesson in getting your foot in the door and making the most of your opportunities. Payton II has had a journeyman resume his entire career, now finds himself part of a championship run and that can be credited to his determination. For guys like him who have bounced around the league, it takes a lot of heart and grit to maintain a career, much less a consistent stay with one team. If they’re not an established role player, they’re likely to become casualties of the sports business which can include being traded, or even worse, getting cut. At 29-years-old, Payton II has a lot of basketball left, so for him to choose that route in hopes of chasing his dreams is admirable. There are other avenues he could have done such as wait for the G League or go play overseas but he stuck to his guns ended up in the pace he wanted to be. The Warriors are still in the battle to win another world title, but Gary Payton II is already a champion for going after what he wants.