What did Gary Payton II say about his condition that almost scrapped his trade to Golden State Warriors? Understanding his comments on Toradol shots
Gary Payton II may be back with the Golden State Warriors, but his return was anything but smooth. With immense controversy surrounding his physical health and the use of painkillers, Payton opened up about the entire ordeal in a recent interview with ESPN.
The Warriors completed a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers ahead of the trade deadline to acquire guard Gary Payton II. In a four-team trade that saw Golden State move five draft picks, the Dubs saw one of their key championship players from last season return to the side.
While this was initially a cause for celebration, the trade procedures were shrouded in controversy when Payton failed his physical at the Warriors' facility. Reports suggested that the guard was injured prior to the trade, while other sources suggested that the Trail Blazers hid this fact from Golden State.
Further reports by The Athletic revealed that Portland's training staff were giving Gary Payton II Toradol shots to help him play through the pain. The situation became even more convoluted at this point even as Payton's agent denied the statement.
At this juncture, the Warriors had the option to rescind the deal and lodge a complaint against the Trail Blazers for withholding information. However, the Dubs eventually decided to finalize the deal.
Following the storm surrounding the trade, Gary Payton II sat down with ESPN's Kendra Andrews to shed more light on the incidents. While discussing the situation with his injury, he said:
"I knew where my body was and how it was. It was out of my hands. I just had to tell them what it was and go from there."
More importantly, the guard also shed light on the use of Toradol to help him play through the pain.
"That was me being a competitor, just wanting to get out there," Payton said. "No shots, though. Just had to get through it and get it done."
He added:
"The medical stuff wasn't that big of a deal. I wanted to play and go out there and help my teammates and coaches. I was a bigger factor on the court than off the court. Me being 50% was better than nothing. I just had to get out there and help my team try to win."
ESPN story: Gary Payton II wasn’t surprised by his flagged physical as he’s dealt with lingering pain from summer abdominal surgery es.pn/3ImTP4d
The Warriors' decision to go through with the trade has certainly been well-received by the fans. Payton played a vital role for the team last season and became a vital part of the Warriors' machinery. Several fans were disappointed to see him leave Golden State ahead of the ongoing season.
Payton is familiar with the system and already has chemistry with the players, so he is unlikely to take long to get settled in once he is fully fit.
Gary Payton II to miss a significant amount of time
Early reports suggested that, due to the seriousness of his abdominal injury, Gary Payton II could be sidelined for 2-3 months. As per ESPN's report, the Golden State Warriors will re-evaluate the guard in a month's time.
Payton's arrival certainly addresses a lot of the team's defensive shortcomings. As per NBA.com, the Warriors are a lowly 20th in defensive rating this season with a rating of 114.1.
GP2 is an elite on-ball defender and pairs perfectly on the perimeter with the rest of the team. His return is expected to bolster Golden State's roster on that end.
Unfortunately, with the amount of physical duress it places upon him, he will need to be in proper game condition before the Warriors can run with him.
As Payton works on individual rehabilitation before returning to on-court activity, fans are eagerly waiting for his return in a Golden State Warriors uniform.