Just making it to the NBA is a huge task, but when you are the son of a legendary player, it’s probably multiple times harder. Teams and fans already have huge expectations from you and if you fail to live up to them, your career could go south pretty soon. But it seems like Gary Payton’s son, Gary Payton II, has adjusted well to this pressure.
He is currently donning the jersey of the Golden State Warriors and is doing great things off the bench. Most recently, in a victory over the Houston Rockets, Payton II showed off his defensive prowess. He recorded 4 steals while also scoring 10 points.
It is quite obvious that having a strong bench is doing wonders for the Dubs. After a slump of two years, the Warriors have seemed to find their groove once again. While their superstars are as great as ever, it’s the players like Jordan Poole and Gary Payton II causing trouble for opponents.
Speaking of Payton II, he is the son of the Glove, who was regarded as one of the best defensive players during his time. It appears that his son has also retained that ability. Following a great performance against the Rockets, Payton II was asked if he and his father talked about defense. He revealed:
“To be honest, we really don’t talk about defense…I wasn’t offensively gifted like he was, so I had to do it on the defensive end. I made sure I was great at defense, and it’s led to steals dunks, and that’s how I got my offense going.”
GP2 on talking defense with his dad: "To be honest, we really don't talk about defense…I wasn't offensively gifted like he was, so I had to do it on the defensive end. I made sure I was great at defense, and it's led to steals dunks, and that's how I got my offense going."
— Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) November 8, 2021
His ability to convert steals into phenomenal dunks is simply great. Apart from breaking the rhythm of the opposing teams, it also serves as a morale booster for the Warriors.
All things considered, the Warriors are on pace for yet another legendary season. Having a great bench is allowing the superstars to take a breather from time to time. So when games come down to the wire, players like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green finish the job.
The Dubs are currently 8-1 and sit comfortably at the top of the Western Conference. If they continue this sensational form, we might finally see the Dubs return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7pWJCU-Om0
