SAN FRANCISCO — There are no training wheels at this time of year. Gary Payton II found out Sunday night.
After missing more than a month with a fractured left elbow, Payton made his momentous return to the Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
The stakes are high and lights are brighter, but Payton didn’t shrink in his first career Finals action. GP2 logged 25 impactful minutes and helped the Warriors bottle up the Boston Celtics in a 107-88 drubbing that tied up the series at 1-1.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr actually sent Payton to the scorer’s table twice in the first quarter, as he entered at the 5:30 mark to a rousing ovation from the Chase Center crowd.
“It was amazing,” Payton said of returning to game action. “I was itching to get out there. I was in the tunnel just walking back and forth, pacing, waiting for Coach to call me. He kind of pump faked me at first for a little bit, got me going. But after I got on the floor, I kind of calmed down and settled in.”
Payton also said he made eye contact with his Hall of Fame father, who was sitting with former Seattle Supersonics great Detlef Schrempf near the corner of the floor. Twenty-six years ago, Pops was guarding Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals. On Sunday night, it was GP2's turn.
“He just shook his head, and I said, ‘Yeah.’” Payton said. “I know that means it's time. You know, go to work.”
Considering his season appeared to be in jeopardy four weeks ago, it was a huge night for Payton and Dub Nation.
GP2 has become a fan favorite since latching on as the 15th man on opening night and carving out a rotation role by November. Remarkable to think he was playing on a non-guaranteed contract until January. He seems unshakeable after a journeyman's career that includes a stop at Salt Lake City Community college, Oregon State, being undrafted then waived five times in the NBA and having to prove himself in the G League.
For his first assignment back, Payton helped slow down Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum. Though the 6-foot-8 Tatum might stand five inches taller than the 6-foot-3 Payton, GP2 didn’t back down. Tatum made some tough shots over Payton, but ultimately Tatum’s 28 points were futile on a night when he didn’t get much offensive support from Marcus Smart (two points), Al Horford (two points) and Robert Williams (two points).
Payton's contributions were magnified on a night when Andre Iguodala was a late scratch with knee soreness. The Celtics were held to just 37.5 percent shooting and their lowest scoring output of the 2022 postseason.
“I thought he was brilliant,” Kerr said of Payton. “The level of defense, physicality and speed in transition, it gives us a huge boost.”
Aside from his defensive pressure and constant hounding of Tatum – he picked him up 90 feet from the hoop at times – Payton also continued his remarkably efficient offensive postseason. Payton went 3-for-3 from the field and is now shooting 19-for-25 (76 percent) during the playoffs. He also knocked down a corner 3-pointer and didn’t show any ill effects from the injury.
“Looks pretty good, doesn't it?” Payton said of his shot.
There was a bit of a scary moment in the first half when he went tumbling to the floor near the stanchion. Warriors fans might have got flashbacks to Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals, when Payton fractured his left elbow following a hard Flagrant 2 foul from Dillon Brooks. But Payton made sure to take a soft landing.
“I tried to tuck and roll best I could,” Payton said.
Payton’s energy was undeniable. Near the end of the game, Steph Curry showed his respect by offering Payton a big hug. He’s a spark plug for this Warriors unit and he’s back to adding some more dollars on his summer price tag, as the free-agent-to-be is showing the Finals pressure is nothing to him.
“Most guys can't step up in that situation,” Draymond Green said. “But GP, he's tough and he's built the right way and he stepped up and he gave us some good minutes tonight.”
