The Golden State Warriors are doing their best to help Stephen Curry end his 17th NBA season with a championship.
The organization made a calculated roster move on Sunday, signing a 6-foot-2 fan favorite guard and NBA champion to support their standout 37-year-old point guard.
“Free agents Gary Payton II and De'Anthony Melton have committed to signing deals to return to the Golden State Warriors," ESPN's Shams Charania reported. "Payton, Melton, and Al Horford are now locked in for the Warriors' 2025-26 roster.”
Payton was a key defensive contributor with the Dubs during his first stint with the franchise, helping them secure a hard-fought championship in 2022.
The Oregon State product was also lights out from beyond the arc on the offensive end, connecting on 53.3% of his three-point jumpers during that year’s postseason.
Following the 2021-22 campaign, Payton temporarily departed the Dubs to join the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Interestingly, though, the 32-year-old pro returned to Golden State midway through the 2022-23 season via trade (four-team deal involving the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons).
While Payton hasn’t been as effective from a three-point shooting standpoint this time around (he shot 36.4% from deep in 2023-24 and 32.6% in 2024-25), his pesky and disciplined on-ball defense has allowed him to remain in Steve Kerr’s rotation.
Expect Payton to play to his strengths again this year and prove the Dubs made a wise decision to bring him back to the Bay.
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