It was a proud moment for Gary Payton II when he received his 2021-22 NBA championship ring before the Golden State Warriors squared off against the Portland Trail Blazers.
He received the ring from veteran Draymond Green just before tip-off with his father, Gary Payton, watching from courtside.
The offseason saw Payton II ink a three-year, $28 million deal with Portland, but is yet to play this season as he continues to recover from a core surgery.
Gary Payton II gets his championship 💍#PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/wwTs73kpkB
— NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2022
Gary Payton II gets his championship #PhantomCam
The result wasn’t what Payton II or the Blazers wanted, as they went down 118-112, with Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole combining for 72 points. The win makes it the fourth in a row for Golden State.
Steve Kerr Lauds Gary Payton II: “I Thought Gary Was One Of The Big Stories From Last Year’s Team”
The Warriors’ head coach was lavish in his praise for his guard. Payton played two seasons for Golden State, averaging 6.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists, but it was what he brought defensively that was instrumental in the team’s championship run.
Speaking to the media, Steve Kerr was happy to see his former player in the building and hoped to see him succeed. Per NBC Sports Bay Area:
“I thought Gary was one of the big stories from last year’s team, you know, to go from a guy who bounced around the league to, we release him before training camp, fingers crossed he clears waivers. And then to become such a key guy for us. And we don’t win the championship without him.”
“So, thrilled to see Gary tonight, and we kept in touch a little bit. And I’ve always got a soft spot for him, for what he’s overcome to achieve in his career. So, great to see him tonight, and I know our crowd will give him an ovation. He was such a fan favorite.”
On the season front, Portland and Golden State have had similar runs and are placed eighth and ninth in the Western Conference. The latter are without the services of Stephen Curry, who suffered a shoulder injury earlier this month. The Warriors play the Hawks next and will look to extend their winning streak.
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