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ago 02 2026Gary Payton II will continue with the Golden State Warriors next season. The point guard has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.9 million, according to Shams Charania, and will remain part of Steve Kerr's rotation.
It's not a flashy move, but one of continuity. Payton II knows the system perfectly, the locker room, and the type of role he's asked to play in Golden State: on-ball defense, energy, cuts to the basket, and impactful minutes without needing offensive prominence.
Last season he appeared in 73 games, averaging 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in just over 15 minutes per game. His numbers don't fully explain his value, because his place with the Warriors has always been closer to invisible work than statistics.
It will be his fourth consecutive season in this second stint with the franchise and his sixth overall. He was with Golden State between 2020 and 2022, before returning in mid-2023.
Payton II is also part of the team's recent memory. He won the NBA championship in 2022 with the Warriors and had previously won the G League in 2019. His renewal keeps a familiar piece within a group that needs to balance veteran presence, defense, and depth from the second unit.
Golden State isn't changing its roadmap with this move, but it retains a useful player. Payton II will continue to be that specialist who comes in to raise the defensive intensity and provide veteran minutes in a roster still searching for its final form.
