Payton on track to return for NBA Finals, per report
With the Warriors now gearing up for the NBA Finals, one of the key pieces of their run to the league's ultimate stage appears close to returning to the court.
According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic, Gary Payton II is expected to return to action during the NBA Finals and may be ready to go once the series kicks off Thursday night at Chase Center.
“There is optimism he could be back in the lineup as soon as Game 1,” Charania said.
Payton fractured his elbow in a nasty incident in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals in Memphis, when the Grizzlies' Dillon Brooks fouled Payton during a layup attempt and sent him scrambling to the floor. Payton landed directly on his elbow, fracturing the bone and sustaining ligament and muscle damage.
The Warriors considred the play dirty, with coach Steve Kerr saying Brooks “broke the code” after the game. But after the Warriors knocked off the Grizzlies in six games, Payton told the media Brooks apologized for injuring him and Payton has no ill will toward Brooks.
Payton even wrote in a Players' Tribune piece that he respected Brooks coming to him, personto-person, to give the apology. He also discussed how much he appreciates Stephen Curry's vocal support of Payton's case to return to the Warriors next year.
Part of why Curry has made the case for Payton is because of how much Payton has contributed this season. He started the first two games of the Memphis series and was seen as the player Golden State would rely on the most to shut down Grizzlies star Ja Morant.
Now, facing the prospects of a Finals matchup with the wing-heavy Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat, the 6-foot-3 Payton's defensive ability, length and athleticism would be welcomed back to help the Warriors with their wing depth.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals is on Thursday, June 2, at Chase Center. Even if Payton isn't ready for that game, he would likely benefit from the series taking two days off between Game 1 and Game 2 (on Sunday, June 5) and then again before Game 3 (on Wednesday, June 8 in the Eastern Conference city).