Gary Payton II isn’t the kind of player who’s going to dazzle you with isolation moves or pull-up threes. That’s not his game - and the Warriors know it.
But what he is, is smart, opportunistic, and relentless. And in Golden State’s recent win over the Pelicans, he showed exactly how a player who doesn’t need the ball in his hands can still be a game-changer.
Payton poured in a season-high 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds, notching a double-double that didn’t just look good in the box score - it mattered. With one of the Warriors’ key offensive initiators sidelined by a quad injury, the team leaned heavily on Jimmy Butler to generate offense. And while Butler is often measured by how many points he scores, his real value - especially in this current stretch without Steph Curry - is in how he bends defenses and creates opportunities for others.
That’s where Payton comes in.
When Butler draws two defenders on a drive, someone’s going to be open. And Payton has figured out that if he’s not standing still, if he’s actively cutting, relocating, and reading the floor, he can be that someone. He’s not waiting for the ball to find him - he’s moving to where the ball will be.
Take one possession: Butler isolates on the wing, and the defense loads up on his side. As eyes and bodies shift toward Butler, Payton sneaks along the baseline from one dunker spot to the other.
It’s a subtle movement, but it’s timed perfectly. Butler sees him, threads the pass, and Payton finishes.
That’s not just hustle - that’s high-level awareness.
In another sequence, Butler again draws attention on a cleared-side iso. Jonathan Kuminga flashes middle, acting as a pressure release, and Payton slides into the dunker spot just as the defense collapses. It’s a read-and-react moment, and Payton nails it.
He’s not just freelancing, either. These are intentional, well-timed cuts designed to punish defenses for overloading on Butler.
And it’s working - Payton is currently averaging 1.50 points per cut, according to Synergy Sports. That’s elite efficiency in a role that doesn’t require volume scoring.
Even when he’s not in the dunker spot, Payton is making himself useful. On one possession, he’s in the slot - a space where defenders are happy to leave him alone.
Instead of settling for a catch-and-shoot three, he reads the help defense, uses a Moses Moody screen, and cuts straight to the rim. Another easy bucket.
Another smart read.
This kind of off-ball movement is exactly what the Warriors need right now. They’re taking the most threes in the league - 46.6% of their shots come from deep - but they’re only hitting them at a 36.3% clip, right in the middle of the pack.
The open looks are there. The makes?
Not so much.
So while the team waits for reinforcements - Seth Curry, recently signed, and De’Anthony Melton, on the mend - Payton’s cutting becomes even more critical. It gives Butler a release valve.
It gives the offense a rhythm. And it gives the Warriors a way to survive without Steph.
Even Quinten Post - who’s struggled to find his shot - is starting to mimic Payton’s movement. On one possession, he mirrors the baseline relocation that Payton has mastered, giving Butler another target when the defense collapses.
This isn’t just about one good game. It’s about setting a tone.
Payton’s effort and awareness should be contagious. If the Warriors want to stay afloat while Curry is out, more guys need to follow his lead.
And here’s the kicker: in 306 non-garbage-time minutes with Butler on the floor and Curry off, the Warriors are outscoring opponents by 7.1 points per 100 possessions. That’s a huge development for a team that has historically struggled without their two-time MVP.
So while the offense isn’t humming like it does with Curry, it’s finding ways to survive - and sometimes thrive - because of players like Payton. He’s not just filling a role.
He’s maximizing it. And in this stretch of the season, that could make all the difference.