Gary Payton II

Gary Payton II is an American professional basketball player born on December 1, 1992, in Seattle, Washington. He is the son of retired NBA player Gary Payton and has followed in his father's footsteps to become a basketball star himself. Payton II attended Oregon State University where he played college basketball for four years and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year twice. In 2016, he went undrafted in the NBA draft but signed a contract with the Houston Rockets to play in the NBA Summer League.

Payton II played for various teams in the NBA G League before signing a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018. During his time with the Bucks, he played in 29 games and was named the G League Defensive Player of the Year for the 2018-2019 season. In the following year, he signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards and made his NBA debut in December 2019. He played for the Wizards for two seasons before signing a two-year contract with the Golden State Warriors in 2021.

Payton II is known for his defensive skills and athleticism on the court. He has been compared to his father, who was a nine-time NBA All-Star and one of the best defenders in NBA history. Despite going undrafted, Payton II has worked hard to make a name for himself in the NBA and is considered a valuable asset to any team he plays for. Off the court, he is known for his charitable work and has been involved in various community initiatives throughout his career.