Gary Payton II has been bringing the energy and passion all season long for the Golden State Warriors. He has played himself into the hearts of fans and impressed the team with his hustle. Recently, he showed his passion off the court to support kids with learning disabilities.
Payton grew up with dyslexia, a disability that affects kids' reading, spelling, writing and word pronunciation skills. It is a common learning disability and can be present in others who do not have a learning disability through various symptoms, according to the International Dyslexia Association.
To help inspire the next generation of dyslexic kids, Payton teamed up with Decoding Dyslexia CA to host a group of dyslexic kids at the Warriors game against the Detroit Pistons, which they won 102-86. Payton shook hands with the kids before the game to welcome them to the Chase Center.
Two weeks ago, Payton met with Michelle Perry, a representative for DDCA, to host a virtual reading for dyslexic kids. He briefly discussed what it was like growing up with dyslexia and urged the audience to not be afraid to ask for help.
Payton's awesome gesture will not go unnoticed. His willingness to support kids and share his own experiences with dyslexia is very heartwarming.
The Warriors' win over the Pistons puts them at 32-12 on the season. Payton, averaging 7.7 points and 3.6 rebounds and shooting 63.5 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from beyond the arc, has been one of their key reserves all year.