Gary Payton II started his first playoff game with the Warriors on Sunday and didn’t disappoint.
While Steve Kerr made the decision to start Payton II in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals likely to lock down Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, the 6-foot-3 guard showed off his athleticism on the offensive end of the court.
About midway through the first quarter, Payton II drove to the basket off a pick-and-roll with Steph Curry and absolutely punished Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane.
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SIGN UP HERE Payton II took flight and put Bane on a poster with an explosive monster dunk topped off with a mean staredown.
Oh, and it wouldn’t be a real Gary Payton dunk without the classic head scratch afterward.
The bully ball had the Warriors’ bench losing their minds at FedEx Forum, and NBA Twitter followed suit.
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Memphis may focus on Payton II's elite defensive ability, but Sunday was a wake-up call that he's much more than a top-notch defender.