Gary Payton

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Lore & Background

Payton's journey began at Salt Lake Community College, where he averaged 14.1 points and earned Second Team NJCAA Division I All-American honors as a sophomore before transferring to Oregon State. There, he became only the second Beaver ever to record a triple-double, tallying 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists against Grambling State in 2014–15, joining his father on that exclusive list. Despite being picked 12th by Pac-12 coaches to finish, Payton led the up-tempo Beavers to a 7th-place finish and was named First Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2015. After going undrafted in 2016, he bounced between the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Portland Trail Blazers, often utilizing two-way contracts or G League stints to stay active.

In Their Own Story

In 2021, Payton signed a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors on April 8, eventually securing a deal for the rest of the season. His path to the championship was fraught with injury; in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies, he fractured his left elbow diving for a fast-break layup after being hit by Dillon Brooks. Despite this setback, he returned for the Finals, posting 15 points, five rebounds, and three steals in Game 5 against the Boston Celtics. He played a major defensive role in Game 6 as the Warriors secured the title. Later, on February 9, 2023, Payton was traded back to Golden State alongside two second-round picks in a four-team deal involving the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons, eventually surpassing 1,000 career points against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 6, 2024.

Reader's Guide

Payton's professional path is defined by resilience and defensive versatility. He began his pro life with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2016, where he scored a career-high 51 points on December 3 against the Los Angeles D-Fenders. His NBA debut came with the Milwaukee Bucks on April 2, 2017, followed by a two-way stint with their affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. He later signed with the South Bay Lakers in October 2019 after being traded from the Canton Charge and returned to Washington Wizards in December 2019. His most significant G League honor came in 2021 when he was named NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year while playing for Raptors 905, averaging 2.54 steals per game. In Portland, he made his debut on January 2, 2023, after core muscle surgery sidelined him for months.

Did You Know?

• Payton became only the second Oregon State Beaver to record a triple-double, joining his father Gary Payton.
• He and his father are the fifth father-son duo in NBA history to both win an NBA championship.
• During his junior year at Salt Lake Community College, he averaged 14.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
• Payton was the last Los Angeles Laker to wear number #23 before LeBron James joined the team.
• On September 1, 2025, it was announced that Payton would launch a professional skateboard league with its inaugural season in Big Bear, California.