Draymond Green quickly acknowledged he may have been exaggerating, but his comment was meant to highlight how much Gary Payton II has grown, especially in how he complements Stephen Curry, via Mark Medina of RG.org.
The Golden State Warriors power forward pointed to Payton’s natural fit alongside Curry as a sign of that development.
“He plays off Steph better than I do, which says a lot,” Green said. “Whether he does or doesn’t is irrelevant. But the point that I can make that statement says a lot.”
Curry smiled at the remark and pushed back slightly while appreciating the sentiment.
“I appreciate Draymond’s humility,” Curry said. “But I got great connections with both.”
While Curry and Green have built a championship core over the years, Payton has carved out an important role with his defense, versatility and improving offensive feel.
His impact has been especially valuable heading into the play-in matchup, where the Warriors are leaning on both their stars and supporting pieces.
“He plays way bigger than his stature. He makes winning plays all over the court,” Curry said. “He’s a matchup nightmare because you don’t know what position he is.”
Payton’s increased availability this season has also stood out, and Green believes his role has evolved into a steadying presence similar to Shaun Livingston’s during past title runs.
“We used to put GP in the game to rattle some stuff up. Now we throw him in the game to settle things down,” Green said. “That’s one of the biggest things, and him just growing into kind of a calming force for this team.”
