Gary Payton II’s Invaluable Impact Returns to Warriors-Spurs – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
SAN ANTONIO – The invaluable impact that Gary Payton II has provided to the Warriors for years returned Wednesday night in their best win of the 2025-26 NBA season, beating the San Antonio Spurs 125-120 at the Paycom Center on the second night of a back-to-back.
Payton’s role early in the season has been as small as ever with the Warriors. A second-round draft pick, Will Richard, quickly passed him in the pecking order, keeping Payton’s game view mostly from the bench. The defensive ace looked a little slow and was prone to fouls, two things that can’t happen for someone who isn’t much of a threat offensively.
He played 15 minutes of missed time Tuesday night when the Warriors were eliminated in Oklahoma City against the Thunder, and it looked like his services wouldn’t be needed much the next night in San Antonio. Payton replaced Steph Curry for the final 23 seconds of the first half, his only carry of the game up to that point.
The second half was a completely different story, for Payton and the Warriors collectively as a team.
Payton played over 14 minutes in the second half and was +9 as the Warriors outscored the Spurs by 12. Taking to the ball and being a nuisance defensively, Payton had four points, six rebounds – four offensive – two assists and a steal during that span. The stars were the show and Payton was the special sauce behind the scenes that helped them thrive.
“I thought Gary was fantastic in the second half. And what a pro,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “This guy hasn’t been in the rotation for two weeks, and you never hear anything from him. He stays upbeat, positive. Everyone loves him, and he always stays ready.”
His game-changing ways began with seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter and the Warriors down by five. Payton’s first offensive rebound led to a Victor Wembanyama foul and two free throws for Curry. The next time on the court, Payton missed a Wemby miss, gave the ball to Draymond Green, ran alongside Curry and set a good enough screen on his man that Devin Vassell fouled Steph for three more free throws. Payton, on the Warriors’ next offensive possession, assisted Moses Moody for a three.
Later in the third, he sneaked behind the Spurs defense for a spinning layup, and his fourth and final rebound of the quarter turned into a foul on San Antonio and two free throws for Jimmy Butler.
Those who have been around Payton since he remained with the Warriors during the 2021-22 championship season are used to this. Al Horford was on the other side as a member of the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals and praised Payton while answering a question about Curry.
“Gary Payton was a complete game-changer for us in the second half,” Horford said. “His offensive rebounding, defensive rebounding – just his impact. I was very impressed with him, because you know, to be able to be called out like that and he continued to make winning plays after winning plays.
“There was a stretch in the third quarter where he immediately instinctively went to Steph on a screen to get him open, and Steph was fouled on three shots. It’s one of those things that guy, he just understands how to play. He knows how to play. He’s a winner. I was just impressed with Gary tonight.”
Payton played the final six and a half minutes of the fourth quarter and pulled down two more offensive rebounds in one stretch. First, he found the corner of a missed Green three and sprinted past Luke Kornet for his third offensive rebound of the game. In the same possession, Payton moved from the right corner to the free throw line to secure a short 3-point attempt by Curry, took one dribble and returned the ball to Curry moved to the corner.
This time, Curry’s three went down and the Warriors’ lead grew from seven points to 10 with four and a half minutes to play.
The Warriors entered the day ranked 26th in offensive rebounds, a number that highlighted larger issues. Payton’s 6-foot-2 (on a good day) reminded everyone of the importance of breaking down the offensive glass and keeping possessions alive.
“Crush yourself,” he said. “The league has changed a lot, so everyone is crashing. Watch the ball and see where it might end up. Maybe short, maybe long. Run through the nail and just be in the right zone where the ball usually comes from at three. So crash.”
If you know how to play with Curry, find him for open shots or free him with timely screens, you’ll get minutes. Payton understands how to get the most out of the Warriors superstar as well as anyone.
He is not considered a star. He is not part of the Warriors’ Big Three. But Curry likes Payton as much as any of his teammates.
“It’s huge. He’s a professional. He’s been through that period where you have to stay ready,” Curry said. “Whether it’s his injury, his comings and goings out of the lineup or the coach’s decision on who he’s going to send. The way he impacts the game defensively, we all know that, but he just seems to be in the right place at the right time offensively. He knows how to set screens, keep the ball moving and if it’s open, shoot it.
“It’s simple, boring basketball, but it’s winning basketball. And he does a great job of being ready every time he’s called to go play basketball.”
At the end of last season, it seemed like Payton’s days with the Warriors might be numbered. Payton wanted it otherwise, and so did Curry. Payton had to wait and wait and wait like everyone else for Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency, finally agreeing to terms before Kuminga.
There was only one team Payton wanted to continue playing with, and his value, which goes beyond statistics, once again turned into a major impact in the biggest win so far for the Warriors that they had to have.
“It’s the story of my career,” Payton said. “Don’t play, I play. Maybe I won’t play, then I’ll be thrown into the fire. It’s another day at work. Staying ready, being ready, that’s all.
“Whatever I can do to help the team. Just come in and play. Try to get the ball to some guys and just do the little things.”
Patience and perseverance paid off for Payton. Respect the game and it rewards you in return.
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