MAY 5: Payton’s MRI yesterday revealed muscle damage on top of the fracture and ligament damage, the team announced in a tweet. He’ll be reevaluated in two weeks.
MAY 4: Warriors guard Gary Payton II will miss three-to-five weeks due to his fractured left elbow, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Payton’s MRI revealed “slight ligament damage” in addition to the fractured elbow, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic, who adds that the defensive stalwart hasn’t ruled out a possible return later in the postseason as long as Golden State keeps advancing.
Payton suffered the injury less than three minutes into Game 2 of the team’s second-round matchup with the Grizzlies after taking a hard foul from Dillon Brooks in transition — Brooks was given a Flagrant 2 for the play and ejected. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr later called the play dirty, and the league is expected to further evaluate Brooks’ foul to see if it warrants a suspension.
As our JD Shaw notes (via Twitter), Payton received his first career playoff starts against Memphis in an attempt to slow down Ja Morant, who went off for 47 points and eight assists with Payton sidelined. His absence will certainly be felt by Golden State, as he’s the team’s best defensive guard by a significant margin.
After bouncing between the G League and the NBA in his first five seasons and never finding a consistent home or role, Payton had a terrific season for the Warriors in 2021/22, appearing in 71 games (16 starts) while averaging 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals on .616/.358/.603 shooting. Though he averaged only 17.6 minutes per night, his impact was clear when he had opportunities, showcasing jaw-dropping athleticism, a knack for the ball, hustle, and strong defense and rebounding.
In his first six playoff games prior to the injury, the 29-year-old averaged 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 steal on .727/.750/.667 shooting in 18 minutes. Since Golden State has great shooters like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole, opposing teams sometimes ignored Payton offensively.
However, Kerr was creative in calling plays for Payton, who often served as a pseudo-big man on offense — catching lobs, lurking in the dunker’s spot along the baseline, and opportunistically cutting to the basket. Defensively, he was frequently tasked with covering the opponent’s best perimeter player.
Payton will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Disappointing. Brooks should miss time too.
He landed on the elbow Brooks did not hit it.
Someone missed the class on cause and effect
Spike are you kidding me.., you said the same thing elsewhere? Did you not see the play? He got chased down and hit off balance while in the air.
If you push me in the chest so I fall off a ladder and I hit my head on the concrete and crack it open, how could you dare say you didn’t hit me in the head, it’s not your fault I’m dead?
Why would you keep stating the wrong illogical statement?
Are you…..serious? Naaa…you can not be that silly..
Spike….♂️
You don’t know anything about basketball.
You won’t get it.
“It wasn’t me running the red light and t-boning his car, it was the way his face went through the windshield that killed him.”
I didnt kill him…..the bullets did!
What for?
Dray play was worse. That’s hysterical Kerr calling him dirty. Dray is dirtiest player in NBA. Everyone knows it. It’s not reputation. It’s a FACT.
When you go after a player in the air. Especially from the back. You chance a bad outcome. Both players should have been suspended. If Dray was maybe Brooks hit never happens.
Damn you must really hate Draymond because none of what you said is remotely true
Al just like Dora the flopper Clarke. Has a big love for the guy winking at him in MG.
Completely lost all respect after those statements. Draymond swiping down hitting Clarke in the face is hardly hitting a player in the air from behind. The jersey grab was unnecessary… but still from the front and a guy going straight up from a two front plant. If you’ve ever played the game there’s a slight difference going up from a two foot plant than going full speed off one foot and getting clocked in the head after getting shoved from behind. You’re comment that “Dray’s was worse” is asinine and ignorant.
Payton will be missed. With Grizz backcourt their heart n soul. This could be difference in series.
Warriors should resign Payton. He’s a solid third guard for a lot of teams. I wonder if anyone would offer him good money.
Beverly in 25.4 mins
(9.2 pts, 4.1 reb, 4.6 ast)
And he’s making 14 mill …….
A team like the Nets. Should give him the midlevel to backup Kyrie. NY would love his energy. And Nets need D players.
Moses Moody deserves a look-see. I’m hoping he absorbs some of GO2’s Minutes.
He lacks the Foot Speed but makes up for it with Length and Long arms.
Damian Lee is not the answer. His defense is almost as bad as Poole’s.