When Is Gary Payton II Coming Back for the Warriors?
By Peter Dewey
The Golden State Warriors have been without a key piece of their rotation for the majority of the playoffs, as guard Gary Payton II has been sidelined with a fractured elbow.
Payton II suffered the injury against the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference semifinals after this hard foul from Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks.
Dillon Brooks was ejected for this flagrant 2 on Gary Payton.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 4, 2022
pic.twitter.com/uO3ZKrNciJ
Payton was expected to miss about a month with the injury, but is there a chance he could return to the Warriors lineup for the NBA Finals? Golden State is the current favorite at WynnBET Sportsbook to win the title.
Payton, who would be a huge help on the defensive end, averaged 7.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for the Warriors in the regular season while shooting 61.6 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Gary Payton II Latest Injury Update
The Warriors need to finish off the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals to make the NBA Finals, but Payton could join the team again if they get there.
He has been increasing his activity prior to games, and The Athletic's Anthony Slater revealed that Payton should return at some point in the NBA Finals.
Gary Payton II beginning to increase his activity level. Still limited to right-armed shooting, but workouts are amping up. Finals return seems like a possibility. pic.twitter.com/ItkwAMhdrl
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 24, 2022
The latest on Gary Payton II from Anthony Slater:
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) May 25, 2022
"He’s moving that left arm much more freely. I wouldn’t be stunned (if he's back) by Game 1 in the Finals. At this point, I expect to see him in the Finals if the Warriors get there."
(via @SteinyGuru957)
This would a be huge boost for Golden State's perimeter defense, as Payton was starting and guarding Ja Morant in the Western Conference semifinals prior to going down. The Warriors would begin the NBA Finals on June 2 if they can get past Dallas.
Gary Payton II Complete Injury History
Payton has suffered several injuries in his short NBA career, but the journeyman guard finally caught on with the Warriors this season.
According to Fox Sports, Payton also dealt with leg, back and ankle injuries this season. Payton dealt with a lower back injury on and off during January and February of this season.
Prior to that, Payton dealt with a knee injury and recovered from a hernia during Nov. 2021.
The Warriors certainly could use the veteran guard's defensive ability for the rest of their playoff run.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.