The Philadelphia 76ers are making a familiar addition as they gear up for the stretch run. When they return from the All-Star break on Thursday to face the Atlanta Hawks, they’ll do so with Cam Payne back in the fold - a steady hand in the backcourt who knows the system and has already proven he can contribute.
Payne is rejoining the Sixers on a deal for the rest of the season, giving head coach Nick Nurse another option behind Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. With Jared McCain shipped to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline and Quentin Grimes battling illness in the final games before the break, Philadelphia found itself thin at the guard spot. Bringing back Payne doesn’t just fill a roster hole - it adds a player with real playoff experience and a track record of stepping up when needed.
If Payne’s name sounds familiar, it should. He was a midseason pickup for Philly last year, arriving from Milwaukee and quickly carving out a role. In 31 games with the Sixers, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.1 assists per game while shooting a solid 38.2% from beyond the arc - exactly the kind of floor-spacing and ball-handling Nurse values in his rotation.
And Payne wasn’t just a regular-season contributor. He gave the Sixers meaningful minutes in the 2024 playoffs, averaging 5.6 points and hitting 44.4% of his threes.
That kind of efficiency off the bench is gold in the postseason. After his stint in Philly, he signed with the Knicks and helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, further proving his ability to impact winning on the biggest stage.
Now, he’s back in Philadelphia, where his familiarity with the system and his ability to play both on and off the ball should make him an immediate asset. For a Sixers team still navigating injuries and trying to find the right mix behind Maxey, Payne offers stability, shooting, and a veteran presence - all of which could be crucial as the playoff race heats up.