Gary Payton II was in the building for Tuesday night’s Warriors-Blazers preseason matchup, but he didn’t get to suit up in front of Dub Nation at Chase Center.
The beloved former Warriors player from last year’s championship run is still recovering from a surgery he recently had for a core muscle injury but is expected to be ready for the regular season.
Klay Thompson didn’t suit up either, as the Warriors want to be careful with his 5-on-5 action before the regular season, but he showed some love for GP2 by wearing a pin Tuesday night.
Payton had a hard time breaking old habits earlier this week.
While the Warriors were practicing in their team facility down the hall from the Chase Center arena on Monday, Payton dropped by to check in on his old squad.
“He came down when they were practicing on the main floor,” Kerr said. “Maybe just by habit he came down those stairs and came down to say hello to everybody. It was fantastic. Everybody loves Gary.”
After Tuesday night’s game, Payton was spotted shaking hands and hugging the Warriors coaching staff.
A year ago, Payton was on the verge of securing the 15th and final roster spot for the Warriors. He went on to carve out a rotation role with his fierce defense, high IQ and opportunistic offense while becoming a fan favorite along the way. The Warriors simply couldn’t afford to keep him around this past offseason and he signed a three-year, $26 million contract to get NBA security for the first time in his career after five seasons as a journeyman.
“We miss him, but we couldn’t be happier for him,” Kerr said. “He’s been toiling for a long time in this league. To earn that contract, couldn’t happen to a better guy. It’ll be nice to see him out there tonight. Wish he was on our side, but this is the NBA. This is how it works. We’re thrilled for him.”
Payton has strong Bay Area ties and will always hold a special place in the heart of Dub Nation. The Blazers are set to play in San Francisco twice this season, on Dec. 30 and Feb. 28.
