What Happened to Gary Payton II? Medical Expert’s Opinion as Shorthanded Warriors Suffer Another Serious Blow

Entering the game against the Orlando Magic, the Golden State Warriors found themselves in a slump, desperately seeking to break a three-game losing streak. They aimed to secure their first win in the ongoing seven-game homestand and kick off 2024 on a positive note. Fortunately, with Gary Payton II back in the last game of 2023, the Warriors had a fully available roster, with no players listed on the injury report. The only absence was Draymond Green, who was serving an indefinite suspension following his altercation with Jusuf Nurkic.

The Warriors achieved the much-needed victory, but unfortunately, it came at a cost. During the process, they lost one of their key defensive assets, Gary Payton II, to yet another injury.

What happened to Gary Payton II?

Bonta Hill, the NBC Warriors pre/post-game host, provided a real-time update on a concerning injury to Gary Payton amid the game. Dr. Nirav Pandya, a well-known medical figure in the NBA community, promptly responded with an explanation. He highlighted the deceptive nature of hamstring injuries, emphasizing that despite their seemingly shorter recovery time, they can have more far-reaching consequences due to their potential to create additional areas of injury.

While injuries haven’t been a pervasive issue for the Warriors this season, it’s not the first time they’ve had to escort Gary Payton II back to the locker room. Despite their struggles being attributed to poor lineups, failed rotations, and subpar player performances, the absence of Gary looms large, especially when the team is in dire need of a winning streak.

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Steve Kerr opens on Payton’s injury

In the post-game conference, Steve Kerr was questioned about Payton’s surprise exit from the game. The coach, just like fans, had been in complete absence of any knowledge about what had occurred in Payton’s leg. Quickly expressing disappointment upon Payton’s mention,  he also conveyed sympathy for the entire team and the defensive player, stating, “I feel bad for him, more than anything.”

Highlighting the significant impact that Payton brings to the team, Kerr expressed hope for a speedy recovery. Even though he didn’t know the nature of the injury, he expected 3 to 4 weeks of absence from the guard. Regardless, he eagerly anticipated having him back on the roster. “He makes such a big impact for us. Fingers crossed that he’s not out for too long,” Kerr concluded in his remarks.

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Fresh off a calf injury that kept him sidelined for 13 games, Gary Payton II has now suffered, as per the team announcement, a left hamstring strain.