Gary Payton II is ready to make another playoff push with the Warriors.
After helping the team win a title last year and being re-acquired at the trade deadline, he has appeared in the past two games in front of an adoring home crowd. On Thursday, Payton did a joint interview with Warriors assistant coach Ron Adams on 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru.”
At one point, Daryle ‘The Guru’ Johnson asked GP2 for his reaction to the notion that teams in the Western Conference aren’t afraid of the Warriors any more. Payton didn’t flinch.
“I’ll see you in the playoffs,” Payton said, shaking his head. “We can figure it out in the playoffs. If you ain’t there, I don’t know what to tell you.”
Entering play Thursday, the Warriors were 40-37 and gripping on to the No. 6 seed in the West for dear life. Payton’s reintegration to the team should be a huge boost, in a conference that’s littered with quality guards. GP2 even found himself locked up with 6-foot-8 Pelicans wing Brandon Ingram in Tuesday night’s game during some box-and-one sets.
“I think I just come back and continue to be myself,” Payton said. “I know some guys and I don’t know some guys. But I’ve been watching enough where I know what guys like to do. Everybody coming off the bench is a extra piece to help with the puzzle. I think I’m just gonna come back and be another piece of the puzzle, get everybody going.”
There is familiarity with players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, but Payton said he’s also looking forward to meshing with Donte DiVincenzo, who signed this past offseason.
“Got a guy like me and Donte – who does the same thing and shoots a little better than I do – but we do the same thing defensive-mindedly,” Payton said. “Very excited, when that time comes, hopefully it's in the playoffs where we’re on the court for a good stint of minutes, we can really go in there and get accustomed to one another, and really feed off each other. Younger bench than last year. I think it’s a mental switch that we gotta do with the young guys.”
Adams also explained what makes GP2 such a special defender on the perimeter.
"The other thing that is genius – as it is with Draymond – is many players react to a play,” Adams said. “He sees the play coming."
Payton missed nearly seven weeks due to an adductor strain and rehab, but also missed Tuesday’s game with right Achilles soreness.
“Getting there,” Payton said of his health. “We got a couple weeks before it’s really time to go. By ‘go time’ I’ll be ready. I got you. Don’t worry.”
