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New Orleans Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton has regained form after missing a large part of the 2018-19 season. He missed 40 games due to injury.
The Louisiana native had bounced back exceptionally, joining rare company earlier this month after putting up five straight triple-doubles, a feat only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and Russell Westbrook.
“Since the All-Star break, I’ve been healthy and been able to play at a pace that I was able to the first four games before getting injured,” Payton told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “Also, my teammates have been playing well and making shots. I honestly believe everything happens for a reason. So, between believing in that, having family around and having teammates to support me, it has made dealing with adversity easy.”
The Pelicans will have to make a lot of decisions this offseason, starting with Anthony Davis' impending trade. And they could likely clean house, especially with guys like Payton, who are on a one-year deal.
However, his 10.5 points, 7.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game bode well for his free agency, as teams will be looking for a well-rounded floor general.
On top of his strong numbers, Payton has also shot a solid 34.5 percent from deep, answering one of the major questions in his game.
Wherever the future takes Payton, it's clear his injuries and setbacks haven't derailed his aspirations.
