Steph Curry, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski
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Steph Curry, Gary Payton II and Brandin Podziemski are all returning to the Golden State Warriors this upcoming season.
Popular Golden State Warriors role player Gary Payton II apparently wants to leave the team in the future if the rumors of expansion are true. Recent reports suggested that Seattle and Las Vegas will get NBA teams in the near future to add another two teams to the current landscape. The popular theory of Seattle bringing back the SuperSonics name would provide huge nostalgia for those to watch the 1990s and early 2000s team.
Payton revealed he’d likely request a trade and badly wants to play for Seattle, as per Scoop B:
“I would probably request a trade immediately! Even though I love where I’m at, it’s about being able to throw on that Sonics jersey before my career is over. I really hope they end up getting that done so I can go hoop for the hometown one time.”
Payton II’s father Gary Payton Sr. was arguably the greatest player in SuperSonics history and led them to the 1996 NBA Finals. The second-generation star would want to play for Seattle to honor his father and have his career come full circle. Payton II’s quote even confirmed that he loves Golden State, but Seattle would provide too much temptation.
Payton Revealed His Childhood NBA Dream
The topic of playing for Seattle led to Payton referencing his childhood life growing up watching his father lead an organization. Despite contributing to multiple winning seasons and an NBA Championship, Payton has never been a franchise player like his father.
Payton II shared the following about his love for the SuperSonics legacy:
“A lot of Seattle days. I remember running around at practice, hanging out with George Karl, the coaching staff, and the players. Kevin Garnett used to come over for dinner every time he was in town. Allen Iverson and Vince Carter too.
Just being a kid and being shocked by the superstars I had access to talk to. I have nothing but good memories of Seattle, from that 1996 Finals run with Michael Jordan all the way up until Dad got traded to Milwaukee for Ray Allen.”
The honesty should be praised since few NBA players talk about loyalty or connection to a franchise if they are not a superstar getting paid by said team. Payton showed the human side of basketball here beyond just setting screens for Stephen Curry or following Steve Kerr’s game plan.
Could Payton Realistically Play For Seattle?
The NBA is reportedly targeting the 2028-2029 season as the ideal time to bring two new teams to the league. Expansion drafts would see Las Vegas and Seattle picking players outside of the protected pool of allotted names each franchise can keep.
Payton Jr. is currently 33 years old, so he will be 35 by the time the SuperSonics reportedly return to the NBA. However, they’ll have a struggle to put together a roster of talented names with most players protected
A respected veteran with a winning history learning from Curry and Draymond Green could help a young expansion roster try to get through a difficult first season. Payton has to keep playing effective basketball to remain in the league, and he’ll have an outside chance to pay the ultimate respect to his father in Seattle.