San Francisco, CA – Before the season began there was a huge concern regarding the backup point guard position, and the Golden State Warriors had one spot on the roster available. The notable names that competed for the final opening were Isaiah Thomas, Darren Collison, Langston Galloway, and Gary Payton II.

The final roster spot was eventually won by Payton II after a long battle between a plethora of point guards. The one thing the Warriors didn't know was that they just signed the team's biggest surprise. It was a fit the son of Hall of Famer Gary Payton knew he was built for a long time ago. The reason he meshes with the team so well is because of his defense.

“Probably before I even knew I was going be in a situation like this or probably before like junior high,” Payton II told ClutchPoints. “I knew that defense was going to be my calling card and that's why I was going to use that to turn on my offense. So I just got better and worked on it.”

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The defensive-minded player has earned his way into the everyday rotation and he's been a key to the Warriors' success. Payton II is the perfect fit, and nobody expected him to do what he's done this season.

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Everyone knew what he could do on the defensive end but this season Payton II is shooting 37.7 percent from the three-point line, and that's something nobody predicted. He's rebounding and doing anything the Warriors need from him and that's why he's the surprise they needed.