The Golden State Warriors have had an amazing start to their season’s campaign with three wins in a row. Even though Stephen Curry stole the limelight with his brilliance, fans never forget the efforts of the supporting cast. Gary Payton II, the rebound leader for the Warriors’ second unit team, is one such talent. Apart from impressing fans on the court, he recently pulled off a noble work off the court for the Oakland community.
GP II’s father, Gary Payton Sr. grew up in the East Oakland community with a humble background. However, the legend’s NBA career boasted the livelihood of his family. Notably, his son has decided to give back to the community which made his dad in his childhood. Let’s find out more about GPII’s recent work towards the community.
Gary Payton II gives back to Oakland
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Unlike his father, Gary Payton II grew up in mansions and luxury facilities, away from the struggles of living in neighborhood surrounded by gangs. In a 2016 interview with The Cauldron, Payton Sr. said, “I gave him a silver spoon… I gave him mansions. I gave him cars,” while he spoke about his childhood struggles.
Seven years after the interview, 30-year-old Warriors star gave back to the Oakland community. The Oakland Roots Sports Club recently took to their X handle, and broke the news about GPII taking part in the ownership of the club. The main goal of this club is to change the sports’ force for social good, as mentioned in their social media.
The tweet read, “Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club welcomes @Garydwayne to the ownership group. Welcome to the Club, GPII.”
GP2 is in. Over $3 million poured in from community investors https://t.co/ESnAYyHwGx
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 1, 2023
Moreover, the charity has raised more than $3 million from the community investors. GPII in his statement said, “Oakland has hugely influenced who i am today… I wanted to be a part of this and support something that is making an impact while changing the game.”
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While he silently contributed off the court, let’s find out what he contributed on the court.
GP II becomes the star of the second unit
After the inclusion of Chris Paul, he became the leader of the Warriors’ second unit, as mentioned by Steve Kerr. As he plays off the bench for the first time in his career, he has better supporting cast alongside him to deliver goods on time. One such star is GPII. In his recent four outings, he has an average of 8.2 points, with a highest of 15 points against the Houston Rockets. The team will witness more of his talent in the coming games.
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What do you make of Gary Payton II’s contribution to Oakland community? Let us know in the comments below.