Last Updated on April 17, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s a detailed profile of basketballer Gary Payton II:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Gary Dwayne Payton II
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born December 1, 1992
  • Hometown: Seattle, Washington, USA
  • Height: 6’3″ (1.91 m)
  • Weight: 195 lbs (88 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6’8″ (2.03 m)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (US)
  • Number: Commonly worn #0 or #8 in the NBA
  • Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
  • High School: Spring Valley High School (Las Vegas, NV)
  • College:
    • Salt Lake Community College (2012–2014)
    • Oregon State University (2014–2016)
  • NBA Draft: Undrafted in 2016
  • Teams Played For:
    • Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2017)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (2017–2018)
    • Washington Wizards (2018–2019)
    • Golden State Warriors (2021–2022, 2023–present)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (2022–2023)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (2022 with the Golden State Warriors)
  • Kids: Has a son named Gary Payton III
  • Siblings: Multiple siblings, including Julian Payton

Player Archetype / Play Style

Gary Payton II’s player archetype is that of a defensive specialist and energy guard: he operates as a disruptive point-of-attack stopper who can also switch across matchups, pressure ball-handlers, create steals, and inject pace with sheer activity. Offensively, he is less of a traditional creator than a play-finishing connector, thriving as a cutter, offensive rebounder, transition threat, and surprising lob target who uses his burst, timing, and vertical pop to score around stars rather than dominate the ball. Physically, Payton plays much bigger than his guard size because of his explosiveness, quick hands, strong frame, and spring-loaded athleticism, which together shape a play style built on chaos, hustle, defensive havoc, and efficient off-ball offense. (Golden State Of Mind)

Fun Facts

  • Gary Payton II is known for his elite defensive skills, athleticism, and hustle on the court, which is the same style of player his father Gary Payton was known for.

Sources:

Golden State Of Mind — Warriors film study: Gary Payton II finally gets his time to shine
Golden State Of Mind — The ‘GP2 play’: How the Warriors are maximizing the talents of Gary Payton II
NBA.com — Defensive Player Ladder: Rudy Gobert holds No. 1 spot, Ben Simmons rises
ESPN — How a lifelong struggle paved the way for Gary Payton II’s success with the Golden State Warriors