<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-gary-payton-ii-joins-al-horford-deanthony-melton-new-contract');   ga('set', 'title', 'Gary Payton II joins Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton after new contract with Warriors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/May-10-2025-San-Francisco-California-USA-Golden-State-Warriors-guard-Gary-Payton-II-0-warms-up-before-game-three-of-the-second-round-for-the-2025-NBA-Playoffs-against-the-Minnesot.jpg"><figcaption>David Gonzales-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Gary Payton II joins Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton after new contract with Warriors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-28T18:04:28-07:00">September 28th, 6:04pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-29T08:49:06-07:00">September 29th, 8:49am</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Golden State <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-al-horford-message-boston-dubs-signing">Warriors continue to make moves</a> to round out the remaining <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-deanthony-melton-commit-after-al-horford">spots of their roster after signing</a> Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton, bringing back veteran guard Gary Payton II.</p><p>Payton <a href="https://x.com/brettsiegelnba/status/1972460557480677609?s=46&amp;t=vnLDgTn4yNZudl1UzUUjJA" rel="noopener">agreed to a new deal</a> with the Warriors on Sunday evening, per NBA insider Brett Siegel. The guard has been with the team since the end of the 2022-23 season, providing valuable defense on the perimeter and solid rebounding at the position.</p><p>“Payton made it clear to Dubs management this offseason that he wanted to come back, and he had the support of the veterans and HC Steve Kerr,” Siegel wrote.</p><p>Payton averaged 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game throughout 62 appearances in the 2024-25 season. He shot 57.4% from the field, including 32.6% from beyond the arc, and 71.1% from the free-throw line.</p><h2><b>What’s next for Warriors after adding Gary Payton II</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/May-2-2025-San-Francisco-California-USA-Golden-State-Warriors-guard-Gary-Payton-II-0-and-Houston-Rockets-guard-Dillon-Brooks-9-battle-for-position-in-the-second-quarter-of-game.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Bringing back Gary Payton II allows the Warriors to retain their depth at the guard position. His defensive talent and playmaking ability benefits the team when they need certain players to do the more physical work on the court.</p><p>Golden State continues to await the contract status of Jonathan Kuminga. He’s been stuck in contract talks with the franchise as he’s yet to find the deal he’s looking for from the front office. With the contract deadline approaching, he will have to agree to the current offer or settle for the qualifying offer to be an unrestricted free agent next year.</p><p>It also helps Golden State to bring Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton into the fold. The Warriors aspire to contend for titles while they still have Stephen Curry and Draymond Green around as well as Jimmy Butler. Retooling their depth this summer, it’s clear that they will look to punch above their weight on a frequent basis.</p><p>The Warriors will begin their preseason at home, hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET before playing four more contests. The regular season will commence when they host the Lakers on Oct. 21 at 10 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Gary Payton II joins Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton after new contract with Warriors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-gary-payton-reveals-thoughts-on-gsw-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors’ Gary Payton II reveals thoughts on Golden State return');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gary-Payton-II-1.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Warriors’ Gary Payton II reveals thoughts on Golden State return</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-15T17:11:28-07:00">May 15th, 5:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-15T17:11:28-07:00">May 15th, 5:11pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/3-biggest-golden-state-warriors-offseason-questions-after-roller-coaster-season">Golden State Warriors facing another pivotal offseason</a>, Gary Payton II’s free agency looms as one of several key storylines. Payton, a 32-year-old defensive standout, has expressed his desire to continue his journey with the Golden State franchise, even as his minutes and production declined during the postseason.</p><p>Payton addressed his NBA <a href="https://x.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1923107560422338942" rel="noopener">future this week</a>, making it clear that a return to the Warriors remains his priority. The veteran guard, known for his elite defense, hinted that he hopes to stay with the team despite questions about his limited role and minutes during the postseason.</p><p>Payton spoke to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk and said he hopes to continue his career with Golden State, as indicated in a post Youngmisuk put on X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>“Hopefully, I can run off a couple more years (with a new deal)… they know how I feel and take it (free agency) one day at a time,” Payton also reiterated his love for the Warriors adding, “I love playing here and for Steve Kerr.”</p><p>The quote reflects Payton’s clear <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-buddy-hield-drops-forever-declaration-on-golden-state-future">loyalty to Golden State</a> and his comfort within Kerr’s Warriors system. He carved out a niche as a reliable perimeter defender, often used to guard elite scorers during crunch time.</p><p>Despite his defensive value, questions persist about Payton’s offensive limitations and durability. During the Warriors’ brief playoff run, Payton logged just six minutes in Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves and totaled only 13 points throughout the series. That limited impact could influence front-office decisions as Golden State con</p><p>His chemistry with stars like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green remains a selling point, but with an aging core and mounting salary concerns, Golden State might prioritize flexibility. Payton’s playoff usage dropped to just 16.4 minutes per game across 11 contests, with only one game in double digits.</p><p>Still, his efficient 57.4% shooting percentage and defensive IQ could make him a valuable depth option if the Dubs opt to re-sign him. Whether he returns or moves on, Payton’s free agency will be one to watch as the NBA offseason unfolds.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors’ Gary Payton II reveals thoughts on Golden State return

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-news-anthony-edwards-reacts-to-gary-payton-sonics-jersey-gift');   ga('set', 'title', 'Anthony Edwards reacts to Gary Payton Sonics jersey gift');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Anthony-Edwards-looking.jpg"><figcaption>David Gonzales-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Anthony Edwards reacts to Gary Payton Sonics jersey gift</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-14T15:05:01-07:00">May 14th, 3:05pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-14T15:05:16-07:00">May 14th, 3:05pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fresh off the Game 4 victory over the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards met an NBA legend and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-news-anthony-edwards-michael-jordan-lesson-trainer-hammers-home">shared a special moment</a> with Hall-of-Famer Gary Payton.</p><p>Payton, famously known as, “The Glove,” has been attending Warriors games over the last few years with his son, Gary Payton II, a key figure in the Golden State rotation.</p><h2><b>Anthony Edwards gifted Gary Payton Sonics jersey after Game 4</b></h2><p>Anthony Edwards <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/minnesota-timberwolves/timberwolves-news-anthony-edwards-challenge-too-much-for-steve-kerr-warriors">dominated Game 4</a> against the Warriors, finishing with 30 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals while shooting 11-of-21 from the field and knocking down six three-pointers. His running mate, Julius Randle, also poured in a game-high 31 points on 11-of-21 shooting with four made threes.</p><p>After the Timberwolves’ 117-110 victory, Edwards walked back to the locker room, but not before making a quick stop behind the courtside seats along the sideline nearest the Wolves’ tunnel. It was there that <a href="https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1922159633755521072">Edwards embraced</a> former Seattle SuperSonics legend Gary Payton and shared a few words with him. Edwards also left with a little gift, handed to him by Payton himself.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ant walked off the court to some MVP chants and greeted Gary Payton Sr.</p><p>Appeared Payton gave him a jersey <a href="https://t.co/jz60ouUcB1">pic.twitter.com/jz60ouUcB1</a></p><p>— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) <a href="https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1922159633755521072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>It turned out to be a Payton Sonics jersey, signed by the man himself. Edwards brought the jersey with him to his postgame press conference and spoke about the moment.</p><p>“He didn’t really come up to me, I came up to him,” <a href="https://x.com/NBAUK/status/1922222790587121897">Anthony Edwards said</a> of his exchange with Gary Payton. “I don’t think he’s the type of guy to go up to nobody and give anybody props anyways. I went up to him because, of course, I hear all the stuff about him, watch film on him, and he was really like that. I told him I’m a big fan and I love the way you guard. Even offensively, he had a lot of game. His son kind of play defense similar to him, super handsy, physical, so big shout out to him.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ant and the Glove🐜🧤</p><p>Gary Payton gave Anthony Edwards a jersey after Game 4! 🤝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> <a href="https://t.co/KyW9Np8DhN">pic.twitter.com/KyW9Np8DhN</a></p><p>— NBA UK (@NBAUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAUK/status/1922222790587121897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Timberwolves return home and will host the Golden State Warriors in a Game 5 that could decide the series if Minnesota wins.</p><p>For the series, Anthony Edwards is averaging 27.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Anthony Edwards reacts to Gary Payton Sonics jersey gift

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-gary-payton-ii-in-middle-of-jimmy-butler-buddy-hield-bickering');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors’ Gary Payton II finds himself in middle of Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield ‘bickering’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Gary-Payton-II-0-before-game-three-of-first-round-for-the-2025-NBA-Playoffs.jpg"><figcaption>© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Warriors’ Gary Payton II finds himself in middle of Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield ‘bickering’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-07T11:41:13-07:00">May 7th, 11:41am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-07T11:41:13-07:00">May 7th, 11:41am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-what-stephen-curry-feels-about-hamstring-injury">Golden State Warriors’ 99-88 Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves</a> in the Western Conference Semifinals, the spotlight briefly shifted from the court to the press room, where Jimmy Butler III and Buddy Hield delivered a <a href="https://x.com/anthonyVslater/status/1919989053027398019" rel="noopener">comedic exchange</a> — all sparked by a comment from Gary Payton II.</p><p>During their postgame press conference, a reporter informed Butler and Hield that Payton had compared them to “two bickering brothers.” Hield didn’t hesitate to respond.</p><p>“And what Gary is? The clumsy one. Always doing the dumbest stuff ever,” Hield said, drawing laughs.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reporter: Gary compared you two to bickering brothers.</p><p>Buddy Hield: “And what Gary is? The clumsy one. Always doing the dumbest stuff ever.”</p><p>Jimmy Butler: “You literally wore the wrong shorts. The audacity.” 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/AEvCdUDp43">pic.twitter.com/AEvCdUDp43</a></p><p>— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) <a href="https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1920001198075093365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Butler, quick to keep the exchange going, brought up Hield’s earlier mistake before tip-off.</p><p>“You literally wore the wrong shorts. The audacity,” Butler replied, laughing.</p><p>The Warriors’ win gave them a 1-0 series lead, but Stephen Curry’s early exit due to a hamstring injury loomed over the victory. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/sources-stephen-curry-hamstring-injury-timetable-warriors-nba-playoffs">Curry was later diagnosed with a low-grade left hamstring strain</a> and has been ruled out for Game 2. The team announced he will be re-evaluated in one week, with the expectation that he could miss multiple games in the series.</p><h2><b>Gary Payton II’s jab draws jokes from Buddy Hield and Jimmy Butler in Warriors’ postgame moment</b></h2><p>With Curry sidelined, the spotlight shifted to other members of the roster. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-draymond-green-assigns-new-batman-names-buddy-hield-doesnt-agree-with">Hield led Golden State in scoring with 24 points, while Butler contributed 20 points</a>, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals in 41 minutes. Payton II played a key role off the bench, adding eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and a steal across 26 minutes.</p><p>Butler, who arrived from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline, was asked about his seamless integration with the team. Before he could answer, Hield stepped in.</p><p>“We had to make sure he got his joy back,” Hield said, making air quotes. “Because he somehow lost his joy.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Buddy Hield: “We had to make sure he got his joy back. Because (motions air quotes) he somehow lost his joy.”</p><p>Jimmy Butler: “Why do you keep doing this? Do you even know what these are called? What are they called.”</p><p>Buddy Hield: “Two fingers.” 💀🤣 <a href="https://t.co/S5ppjRDnrx">pic.twitter.com/S5ppjRDnrx</a></p><p>— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) <a href="https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1919999368138228109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>The remark was a tongue-in-cheek reference to Butler’s departure from Miami, widely viewed as the result of mounting tension with the Heat organization. Butler, staying in character, fired back.</p><p>“Why do you keep doing this?” Butler asked. “Do you even know what these are called? What are they called?”</p><p>“Two fingers,” Hield replied, triggering another round of laughter.</p><p>While Payton was not present during the exchange, his offhand comparison clearly struck a chord. The light-hearted banter highlighted the team’s close-knit chemistry, which has been a driving force behind its playoff success despite adversity.</p><p>The Warriors will look to build on their momentum in Game 2, which is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Target Center, airing on TNT. With Curry sidelined, the team’s depth — and perhaps more playful locker room energy — will be put to the test once again.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Warriors’ Gary Payton II finds himself in middle of Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield ‘bickering’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-dubs-gets-last-minute-injury-update-on-gary-payton-ii-for-game-1-vs-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Warriors get last minute injury update on Gary Payton II for Game 1 vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_1475.jpeg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Warriors get last minute injury update on Gary Payton II for Game 1 vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-06T17:51:02-07:00">May 6th, 5:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-06T18:24:03-07:00">May 6th, 6:24pm</time><address><a>Tomer Azarly</a>Tomer Azarly is in his ninth season as the LA Clippers beat writer and NBA reporter for ClutchPoints. From the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-James Harden era, he brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers as well as coast-to-coast coverage of the NBA.In his free time, Tomer likes to play basketball, video games, and draw.You can follow his Twitter and Instagram for all Clippers content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Golden State Warriors</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves on deck, the Golden State Warriors could use as many of their defenders as possible. That’s why <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-gary-payton-iis-status-up-in-the-air-for-game-1-vs-timberwolves">the latest news</a> surrounding Gary Payton II is huge.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-draymond-green-sums-up-stephen-curry-game-7">Payton II missed the Warriors’ last game</a> against the Houston Rockets due to an illness that had him, “sick as a dog,” according to head coach Steve Kerr.</p><h2><b>Warriors get last minute injury update on Gary Payton II for Game 1 vs. Timberwolves</b></h2><p>Gary Payton II played in six of the Warriors first round games before missing Game 7 against the Rockets because of illness. According to Kerr, Payton II was unable to eat anything and there was, “no way he can play,” in the game.</p><p>However, it appears as though Payton II’s absence will last just one game, as the Warriors guard has been upgraded and appears poised to return to the court for Golden State in Game 1 against Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.</p><p>According to Danny Emerman of the San Francisco Standard, <a href="https://x.com/DannyEmerman/status/1919905453330329680" rel="noopener">the Warriors are expecting Payton</a> to return and be available despite dealing with the illness and, apparently, inflammation in his left elbow.</p><p>The Warriors were able to hold off the Rockets without Payton II playing in the final game thanks to a historic Game 7 performance by guard Buddy Hield, who had a game-high 33 points and nine three-pointers.</p><p>Gary Payton II ended up playing six games and 16 minutes a night in the first round series, averaging 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 steals while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.</p><p>During a video conference call with select members of the media on Monday afternoon, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that the team had yet to make a determination on the status of Gary Payton II because of the severity of his illness at the time. There was no mention of any left elbow inflammation, which must’ve flared up on Tuesday morning, but not enough to hold him out of Game 1.</p><p>“Yeah, we’ll see,” Kerr said. “He was on the flight, but he wore a mask and he sat in the back away from the rest of the players. We don’t know yet about his status for tomorrow.”</p><p>In 62 appearances this season, Gary Payton II averaged 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 57.4 percent from the field.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.0	4.0	1.0	0.5	1.0

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
6.0	4.0	1.0	0.5	1.0

Gary Payton

Latest Gary Payton II News

Gary Payton II joins Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton after new contract with Warriors

Warriors’ Gary Payton II reveals thoughts on Golden State return

Anthony Edwards reacts to Gary Payton Sonics jersey gift

Warriors’ Gary Payton II finds himself in middle of Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield ‘bickering’

Warriors get last minute injury update on Gary Payton II for Game 1 vs. Timberwolves

Gary
Payton