Stephen Curry is very pleased to have seen Gary Payton II proved he is worthy of being the Golden State Warriors' 15th and final player this season.
Gary Payton II put on a remarkable performance in the Warriors’ blowout 119-107 win over the Sacramento Kings Sunday.
Off the bench, Payton II played for an efficient 17 minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing one rebound in the process. Atop that, he also delivered a terrific display on the defensive end, something Warriors superstar Stephen Curry raved about after the game.
“One thousand percent,” Curry firmly told NBC Sports when asked if Payton II exhibited the value of having a 15th player in the team.
“Defensively he gives us an edge,” he added. “And then he knocked down two 3s, which was huge. If he’s going to get open shots, he has to take them. We just want him to stay locked in, stay competitive and stay focused on when his moment comes and show he can do it.”
It can be recalled that Curry was reportedly one of the Warriors players who were stressing the need to fill the 15th spot in the roster. After the Los Angeles Lakers signed Avery Bradley, the Dubs got a bit lucky Payton II remained available, and the team swiftly pounced.
Payton II is expected to continue to play a key role as a backcourt backup for the Warriors in the next games. At 6-foot-2 and a wingspan of a 6-foot-8, Payton II evidently makes an effective defender the Dubs could utilize this season.
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