Warriors comply with one-year cope with Gary Payton II

We lastly have affirmation that the Golden State Warriors will certainly be re-signing Gary Payton II. Whereas rumors have swirled for weeks that the Dubs and Payton had been anticipated to comply with a veteran minimal deal to return, Marc Stein of SteinLine reported on Saturday morning that the 2 sides had been anticipated to finalize a deal by the tip of the weekend. Minutes later, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Warriors had agreed to re-sign Payton to a one-year deal on the veteran’s minimal.

Already 33, restricted, and with an in depth damage historical past, Payton solely additional solidifies Golden State’s try to run it again with the 37-win 2025-26 roster. A perplexing method given the workforce’s struggles and age. Nonetheless, Payton is a favourite of head coach Steve Kerr and face of the franchise Steph Curry.

A basketball journeyman for many of his twenties, Payton discovered his place as a high-energy position participant who has the flexibility to lockdown gamers on the perimeter. Payton has performed with the Warriors for every of the previous six seasons (though he did even have a brief stint with the Portland Path Blazers within the 2022-23 season). Regardless of his lengthy damage historical past, Payton has been quietly one of many Dubs healthiest position gamers over the previous two seasons.

In 2025-26, Payton averaged 7.5 factors, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals in 15.6 minutes per sport throughout 73 appearances on 58.3%/29.1%/65.0% taking pictures. For his profession, Payton has averaged 5.9 factors, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steal in 15.1 minutes per sport on 56.4%/32.8%/63.0% taking pictures.