Things I’ll Miss From the Regular Season: Elfrid Payton’s Hair

Apr 10, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) points from the court against the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve never liked April Fools Day. Don’t get me wrong, though. Lying. Deceiving people. Getting a laugh out of it? That’s my jam. But I hate when others try to do it me. Call me a hypocrite or whatever, but when I saw a picture of Elfrid Payton with a hair cut on the first of the fourth my heart skipped a beat.

(Via Twitter.com/OrlandoMagic)

Thankfully it was all a cruel joke. Payton didn’t cut his hair. I could breath easy.

I fell in love with Payton in the lead up to last year’s NBA Draft. As soon as I saw those ornamental locks crowned on that wiry frame, I needed to know more about this lanky point guard from the University of Louisiana Lafayette. After reading up on him on various draft sites, I learned he was a top-level defender with a propensity for getting to the rim, a lousy jump shot and hair to rival Iman Shumpert and Janelle Monae. I was all in.

Then he was acquired by the Orlando Magic on a draft night trade, and I started grieving. His career was over before it began. Here is an athletic guy who projects to be a dogged perimeter defender who can’t shoot selected by an organization that already has Victor Oladipo and Aaron Gordon (neither of whom can shoot) and signed Ben Freaking Gordon to be their ace shooter.

BEN FREAKING GORDON.

I was devastated. There was no way Payton could thrive in Orlando.

I was wrong. Oladipo got better as the season went on and Payton did things that made my hair stand up.

But wait, there’s more!

And finally…

The Magic struggled this season and, while frustratingly being stuck in the mud, the backcourt may have been the only spot to take a step forward. Orlando’s guard rotation was its best position last season, according to hoopsstats.com. While they went through their struggles–the shooting and spacing was a frequent issue–Oladipo and Payton were the most exciting thing about this team. A clearly limited backcourt with seemingly limitless potential.

Payton and his hair won’t be dunking or dishing on our televisions for a while but, for the Magic organization and its fans that dealt with a disappointing season, the combination of EP and VO gives them something to hang their hats on.