Shaquille O?Neal?s Lesser Known Son Left in Awe of Stephen Curry?s 30YO Teammate?s Fandom

The NBA offseason is usually meant for players to get their rest after a long and grueling season. They are free to go on vacation, play pickup games with their friends, and just unwind. Most players resort to playing in Pro-Am leagues to not lose their touch. Stephen Curry’s teammate is one such player, with the Golden State Warriors guard recently spotted playing in Las Vegas. Impressed by the 30-year-old, Shareef O’Neal, the son of NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, shared the clip on Instagram.

The 23-year-old has been making waves with the NBA G-League Ignite. So who left Shareef impressed?

Gary Payton II Spotted at Desert Reign ProCity League

Shareef O’Neal, who was part of the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 2022 Summer League roster, took to Instagram Stories to share a post of Payton II surrounded by fans. Most people associate the Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry, so Shaq’s son was clearly amazed at just how famous ‘Young Glove’ actually is.

With the 2023-2024 regular season drawing closer, players are slowly working to get back into shape to challenge for the title. After Payton II and the Warriors were knocked out by the Lakers in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, they’ll be aiming to go further this season.

Since going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, ‘The Mitten’?has traveled around the League, playing for both NBA Teams and G League teams, hoping to solidify his place in a roster. His most successful stint was with the Warriors, where he was an integral part of their 2022 title win, cementing his place in Warriors fans’ hearts.

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However, he left in free agency following their championship win, which broke many fans’ hearts.

Gary Payton’s Warriors Return

Payton was eventually brought back by the Warriors, in a 4-team trade involving the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. He made his second debut on March 26, against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

As the son of Gary Payton, nicknamed ‘The Glove’?for his defensive acumen, Payton II will hope to bring out some of the lockup defense that his father was famous for in order to bolster the Warrior’s bid to claim another title in 2024. With the Bay Area-based team making strong moves in the off-season, they will hope that their role players can provide the perfect boost to reclaim their title as the best team in the League.

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What are your expectations from the Warriors next season? Let us know in the comments.