Draymond Green knows what makes ex-warrior Gary Payton II irreplaceable

Draymond Knows What Makes The Former Warrior GP2 Irreplaceable originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green’s love for Gary Payton II runs deep. He was pushing for Payton to get a second 10-day contract with the Warriors at the end of the 2020-21 NBA season, was adamant he got the Warriors’ last roster spot before last season, and was part of a long one List of people within the franchise who wanted Payton back in the offseason after Golden State’s last championship.

When Payton returned to the Chase Center on December 30 to collect his ring ahead of the Warriors’ win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Green had the honor of presenting it to his former teammate on center court with Dub Nation on his feet.

“Love you bro, you’re showing the young champion some love,” Green said at the end of his pre-game speech after presenting him with his new hardware.

But Payton wore a Jordan Jimenez hoodie and a San Francisco Giants hat, not a Blazers jersey. Still recovering from offseason abdominal surgery, he was yet to make his debut with his new team, with whom he signed a three-year contract worth over $26 million, a number the Warriors would not match.

That time is now over. Payton has played 14 games with Portland and Wednesday will be a first for him.

This time, his outfit won’t resemble the Bay Area at all. Payton wears a headband and a sweatband on his right wrist. He will also wear a #00 Blazers jersey, a sight that won’t sit well with Green and the rest of the Warriors.

“I mean, I’m not really looking forward to playing him,” Green told NBC Sports Bay Area after the Warriors’ win over the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday night at the Chase Center. “I know what he’s capable of on the floor and what he brings to the team, so I can’t say I’m looking forward to it.

“But every time you see your brothers in this league, it’s always an honor. It’s a privilege for any of us to be in this league, so every time you have the opportunity to meet and break bread or compete against each other, it’s always an honor and you can never take that for granted.”

There’s no doubt Draymond will miss Payton on the pitch. The Warriors had the best defense in basketball a season ago, with GP2 being an anchor for that unit and a nightmare for the opposition. With him gone, Golden State’s defense has been subpar at best this season.

It’s what brought Payton to the locker room, the sidelines and the outside that Green still misses to this day. The two spent two years together as teammates and wished the tenure could have been longer. His ghost is what Draymond first mentioned. “Only he!” he said as he collected his thoughts. Payton’s humor did not go unnoticed by Green either.

Despite snarling and scratching his head after a poster dunk, it was hard to see Payton in a Warriors jersey without a smile.

The same smile is sure to pop up when he faces off against his old team, and even Green will return it immediately.

“You end up missing that more than on the basketball court,” Green said. “Basketball court, you have talent. You come in, you do what you have to do. But it’s the times off the pitch that you end up missing.”

What Payton brings to court is irreplaceable. Really, it cannot be cloned. Not by one player or a collection of them. The warriors would know.

Donte DiVincenzo was asked to fill Payton’s role to an extent. However, they are different players. The Warriors are delighted with the signing of DiVincenzo. He just doesn’t fit seamlessly into Payton’s old shoes.

Nobody does.

Like Payton, Jonathan Kuminga is developing into a prolific defender on the ball. The 6ft 8 forward can also be used offensively like him and can hit the basket. There is still a difference. At 20, he doesn’t know the nuances as Payton does through experience and trying to perfect incredibly unique skills.

Moses Moody should be a bit of a Payton replacement, having earned his minutes in the Western Conference Finals last season when Payton was injured and out. Not everything goes according to plan. Moody has received 13 DNPs (Did Not Play) this season and has seen his place in the rotation shrink to zero at times.

RELATED: Warriors Still Miss GP2 After Discovering Its True NBA Value

Payton defends like a big man and plays the dunker role at 6-foot-2. His ball pressure pierces the soul and he has a knack for steals. His knowledge of positioning is unique, especially for a guard, and opens up the versatility of a defense. Don’t even try to judge him on the boxing score.

In 14 games this season, Payton averaged 3.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. None of these numbers are breathtaking. Last season, he posted career-high points per game (7.1), rebounds per game (3.5), and steals per game (1.4) with the Warriors. Without those numbers, the Warriors won’t win the title.

He also had an offensive rating of 129 and a defensive rating of 103 for the Champion Warriors.

“GP is very similar to me in being undersized if you will, if that’s a word is his weapon,” Green explained. “Because they don’t know how old he is. You can affect shots, you can get steals where your opponent thinks, “Oh, that’s open,” but then an arm goes up, an arm goes out. These are things that cannot be taught.

“He just has a knack for the ball, so he gets offensive rebounds and steals. He just has a knack for the ball. Me and Loon used to call him a little five.”

His game can be indescribable. His story is about passion, work, opportunity and perseverance – all qualities that Green can relate to. The one word that best describes Gary Payton II came to him in a hurry.

“Champion!” said Draymond two nights before their battle, with the satisfaction of a proud older brother.

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