Shams Charania: Free agent Gary Payton II has agreed on a one-year, $3.9 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, sources tell ESPN. Payton returns to the Warriors for his seventh year in the Bay Area -- and his 11th NBA season.
More on Gary Payton II: Recent HoopsHype Rumors
– Draymond said that you can play off of Steph better than he can. What do you think of that? Gary Payton II: “I don’t know about that. They had a decade and some change with each other. I just try to get as much info and intel as I can from both of them to make it easier for the both of them. So I definitely took some things from Draymond with Steph. And I definitely took some things from Steph for Draymond. So to just play off of those guys, they make it very easy on the court on both ends. So as much as I can feed
and grab intel from them, it makes my life easier.” — 4/15/2026 Responsible Gaming
– You’re one of the very few that can call Steph by that name. How did you get that pass? Gary Payton II: “It’s just a bond, I guess you could say. It was kind of shaky in the beginning. But I guess he allowed me to continue to call him that. He never told me not to, so I can do it.” — 4/15/2026 Responsible Gaming
– What was Steph’s demeanor like as he was trying to get back on the court again? Gary Payton II: “It was normal ‘Wardell’ demeanor. Once his body was right, everything else would follow. He was just getting his rhythm.” — 4/15/2026 Responsible Gaming
Anthony Slater: Gary Payton II on the impact of Steph Curry's return: "I get layups. Wide open layups." Warriors have a 118.0 offensive rating with Curry on the floor this season, 110.2 with him off the floor. — 4/4/2026 Twitter @anthonyVslater
Anthony Slater: Kristaps Porzingis will sit tomorrow night vs the Spurs. Hasn’t been cleared for both sides of back-to-backs yet. De’Anthony Melton out with a thumb strain. Gui Santos and Gary Payton II questionable. Warriors face Cavaliers on Thursday. — 3/31/2026 x.com
Anthony Slater: Kristaps Porzingis is out tonight in Atlanta with lower back tightness. Jonathan Kuminga is off the injury report and cleared to face the Warriors. Questionable: Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Quinten Post. — 3/21/2026 x.com
We started the conversation about what it would mean for you to be able to play in Seattle — so we’ll end it here. If the team does come back — what would it mean to you personally? It was like a dream come true all over again. To be able to see them, to be able to go there and we have an opportunity to sit down and watch a game. Hopefully they can do it here in a few years so I can possibly go back and put on a Seattle SuperSonics jersey. But other than that, it’s for the basketball culture. Even if I do play for them or not, it will be good for the city of Seattle and good for the NBA. — 3/6/2026 New York Times
So as speculation swirls about NBA expansion and bringing the Sonics back to Seattle, Payton II’s answer about bringing a team back to his second home was immediate. “Request a trade to Seattle,” Payton II recently told The Athletic. “Probably.” He (probably) isn’t kidding. The love for Seattle and the Sonics is still in his heart. “Respectfully. I love it here so much. But if we do (have a Seattle team) when I’m still here, I definitely want to go back and play there,” he added. — 3/6/2026 New York Times
Will Richard scored 21 points, Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II added 19 apiece and the Golden State Warriors routed the Memphis Grizzlies 133-112 on Wednesday night in a game between two teams depleted by injuries. Gui Santos added 17 points as eight of the nine Golden State players who saw action reached double figures. The ninth player, Malevy Leons, had nine points. — 2/25/2026 Yahoo! Sports
Anthony Slater: Draymond Green and Gary Payton II are both questionable tomorrow night vs Bucks with ankle sprains. — 1/6/2026 x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Gary Payton II, Warriors agree to one-year deal
