NBA Beavs: Gary Payton II to Help Lead Warriors Bench Unit in 2024-25

The high-flying defensive guard has a role to play as the Warriors slowly transition into a new era.

Apr 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

When Gary Payton II played college basketball for Oregon State in 2015-2016, he impressed early by recording a triple-double in his eighth Division-I game. It was just the second in school history aside from his father, the legendary Glove, who also achieved this feat in 1988.

Payton II had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against Grambling, hitting the ground running en route to a season where he won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in addition to being all-conference first team. But he didn't stop there – he repeated these honors in his second season at Oregon State before graduating on going on to a pro career.

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Despite going undrafted, Payton II willed his way into the NBA, beginning with a grind through the G League, then called the "D League." He played his way through several different teams over the course of five seasons, from the Rio Grande Vipers, Los Angeles D-Fenders, and 905 Raptors before eventually settling into a real NBA role with the Golden State Warriors, where he won an NBA Championship in 2022.

For playing over 70 games with the Dubs in that season, Payton II earned a big-time contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, who offered him $28 million over three seasons. Unfortunately, he dealt with injuries and a core surgery that prevented him from playing most of these games.

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It seems meant to be that Payton II play in the Bay Area, however, as the Trail Blazers ended up trading him back to the Warriors in February of 2024. With Golden State's slow rebuild beginning, starting with Klay Thompson's departure and influenced by the rise of young players like Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, Payton II will likely find himself with a real role to play with the team's second unit as a point guard that can both facilitate as well as defend at a high level.

This season will be Payton II's eighth year in a very unlikely professional career in basketball given his undrafted status, but he is proof that perseverance can truly pay off.