The Untold Journey of Gary Payton II Through the NBA Draft Process

I still remember sitting in my living room watching the 2016 NBA Draft unfold, feeling that familiar mix of hope and anxiety that comes with waiting to hear a name called. Gary Payton II's journey through that process fascinates me because it represents everything that's both beautiful and brutal about professional sports. The draft isn't just about talent—it's about timing, circumstance, and sometimes pure luck. Payton carried the weight of his father's legendary name while trying to carve his own path, and honestly, I've always rooted for players in that position. There's something compelling about legacy athletes who have to prove they're more than just famous last names.

When Payton declared for the draft after his senior year at Oregon State, many scouts saw him as a defensive specialist with limited offensive upside. I've reviewed his college footage extensively, and while his shooting percentages weren't stellar—he shot just 31.5% from three-point range in his final college season—his defensive instincts were clearly elite. The metrics showed he averaged 2.5 steals per game during his junior year, but numbers alone couldn't capture how he disrupted offensive schemes. Having spoken with several NBA scouts over the years, I've learned that teams often overvalue scoring in the draft process while undervaluing defensive specialists. This creates situations where players like Payton slip through the cracks, and frankly, I think it's a systemic flaw in how many organizations evaluate talent.

The 2016 draft came and went without Payton's name being called. I remember feeling genuinely disappointed when the final pick was announced and he wasn't selected. He had worked out for at least eight teams according to my sources, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors, but ultimately went undrafted. What many people don't realize is that being undrafted creates an entirely different path to the NBA—one filled with uncertainty and constant proving yourself. Payton signed with the Houston Rockets summer league team initially, but was waived before the regular season began. This pattern would repeat itself multiple times over the coming years, and I've always admired his persistence through what must have been incredibly frustrating circumstances.

His journey reminds me of the recent situation with Katrin Trebichavská, the 25-year-old Slovakian winger who's poised to replace Chantava in the upcoming match against Farm Fresh in Montalban. While different sports, both scenarios highlight how athlete careers often hinge on being in the right place at the right time. Trebichavská's opportunity comes from what appears to be documentary issues with another player—one of those administrative details that can completely alter career trajectories. In Payton's case, it was the Warriors' specific need for defensive versatility that eventually gave him his real break, though that wouldn't come until several years after his draft experience.

Payton's path took him through the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he developed into a more complete player. I tracked his stats during that 2017-18 season—he averaged 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game—but more importantly, he refined the defensive skills that would eventually make him valuable to an NBA roster. What impressed me most was his willingness to embrace the G League rather than seeking opportunities overseas, which many players in his position choose to do. That decision ultimately paid off when the Warriors signed him to a two-way contract in 2020, though his journey was far from smooth even then.

The Warriors waived and re-signed Payton multiple times, creating what fans jokingly called "The Gary Payton II Experience." I've always found this aspect of his story particularly compelling because it shows how roster mechanics and financial considerations can impact players who've already proven their value. When he finally secured a standard NBA contract and contributed meaningfully to the Warriors' 2022 championship run, it felt like validation for every undrafted player fighting for recognition. His defensive rating of 104.3 during that championship season was among the best in the league, and he shot a surprising 61.6% from the field—numbers that far exceeded what scouts projected during his draft evaluation.

Reflecting on Payton's draft journey and subsequent career, I'm struck by how the NBA's evaluation system often misses players who develop later or don't fit conventional molds. Having covered basketball for over a decade, I've seen numerous players blossom after being overlooked in the draft, but Payton's case stands out because of his family legacy and the sheer length of his journey. The draft process focuses heavily on potential, but sometimes what matters more is perseverance and finding the right organizational fit. Payton's success with the Warriors demonstrates that development isn't linear, and that sometimes the most valuable players are those who've had to fight for every opportunity.

Looking at current draft prospects, I often wonder how many Gary Payton IIs are in this year's class—players with specific, undervalued skills who might slip through the cracks only to emerge later as crucial contributors. The draft will always be an imperfect science, but Payton's story offers a compelling case study in why teams should sometimes look beyond conventional metrics and trust their eyes when evaluating talent. His journey from undrafted prospect to NBA champion is one of my favorite basketball stories in recent memory, precisely because it challenges the notion that the draft is the definitive measure of a player's potential. Sometimes the best players aren't the ones selected earliest—they're the ones who refuse to let not being selected define their careers.