Honestly, if you ask the average basketball fan about Gary Payton II, they immediately start talking about the Golden State Warriors. They’ll mention the 2022 title run, his insane vertical for a guy who’s 6'2", or how he’s basically a center trapped in a point guard’s body. But there’s this weird, brief blip in history that feels like a "Mandela Effect" for Lakers fans.
Before he was the "Young Glove" winning rings in the Bay, he was a Two-Way player in Los Angeles.
Gary Payton II Lakers history isn't just a trivia answer; it's a fascinating look at how close a player can come to falling out of the league before they finally find the right system. Back in early 2018, the Lakers were a mess. They were in that awkward post-Kobe, pre-LeBron transition phase where the roster was a revolving door of G League flyers and young draft picks like Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram.
The 11-Game Lakers Cameo
Payton II landed with the Lakers on a Two-Way contract in January 2018. If you weren’t paying attention to 10-day contracts and South Bay Lakers box scores, you probably missed it. He only suited up for 11 games in the purple and gold.
He wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire at first. He averaged about 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in roughly 10 minutes of action. But for those of us who obsess over the "process" of player development, there were flashes. He had this weird, lefty energy and a defensive instinct that clearly ran in the family.
The crazy part? He was actually the last Laker to wear the number 23 before LeBron James arrived and took it over. Think about that for a second. Somewhere in a warehouse, there is a "Payton II #23" Lakers jersey that belongs in a museum of "Almost Stars."
That One Random Night Against the Clippers
Every fringe NBA player has "The Game." For Payton II, it happened on the very last night of the 2017-18 season.
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It was April 11, 2018. The Lakers were playing the Clippers in a game that meant absolutely nothing for the standings. Both teams were headed to the lottery. Most of the starters were checked out. Payton II, however, played like it was Game 7 of the Finals.
- Points: 25
- Rebounds: 12
- Minutes: 30
He went 11-of-19 from the field. He looked like an All-Star. He was everywhere—crashing the glass, poking balls away, and finishing at the rim with that weird explosiveness we now see every night in Golden State. You'd think a 25 and 12 game from a young guard would earn him a multi-year deal on the spot.
Nope. The Lakers waived him that summer.
Why the Lakers Let Him Walk
Looking back, it’s easy to scream at Rob Pelinka for letting a championship-caliber role player go. But you've got to remember the context. The Lakers were cleared for takeoff on the "LeBron Era." They were looking for veteran shooting and established names. A defensive specialist with a shaky jumper didn’t fit the blueprint they were trying to build overnight.
Also, Payton II was still figuring out his identity. In the G League, he was often asked to be a primary creator. In the NBA, he struggled to be a traditional "point guard." It took Steve Kerr and the Warriors’ "0.5-second" offense to realize that Gary isn't a point guard—he's an elite cutter and a defensive menace who should play like a power forward.
The Lakers used him like a standard guard, and it sort of muted his best traits. Honestly, if he had stayed, he might have just rotted on the bench behind Rajon Rondo or Avery Bradley.
The Recent Rumors: A Return to Hollywood?
Fast forward to 2025 and 2026, and the Gary Payton II Lakers connection keeps popping up in trade rumors and free agency whispers.
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It makes sense. The Lakers have spent years looking for "Point of Attack" (POA) defenders. They need guys who can navigate screens and harass guards like Ja Morant or De'Aaron Fox. Every time the trade deadline approaches, Lakers Twitter starts photoshopping Gary back into a Lakers jersey.
The irony is thick. The player they discarded for nothing is now exactly what they’d give up a first-round pick to get.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Stats
When you look at his Lakers numbers, don't get fooled by the low averages.
If you dive into the advanced tracking from that 2018 stint, his "Defensive Box Plus-Minus" was actually decent considering how bad the team's overall defense was. He was basically a "Stock" (steals + blocks) machine even in limited minutes. He was averaging nearly 2 steals per 36 minutes back then. The talent was there; the "fit" was just broken.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking Payton's career or wondering if he fits the current Lakers' defensive scheme, keep these specific factors in mind:
- System over Stats: Payton II is a "system player" in the best way possible. He needs a team that doesn't expect him to dribble the air out of the ball. If the Lakers (or any team) try to make him a traditional PG again, he’ll fail.
- Corner Efficiency: His value skyrocketed when he became a reliable "dunker spot" finisher. In his Lakers days, he hovered around the perimeter too much.
- The "Glove" Genealogy: He isn't his dad. Gary Payton Sr. was a trash-talking floor general. The son is a quiet, vertical spacer who defends 1 through 4. Teams that understand this distinction get the most out of him.
Next time someone tells you GP2 has always been a Warrior, remind them of April 11, 2018. Remind them of the kid in the #23 jersey who dropped a 25-point double-double and then disappeared into the G League for three more years before the world caught on.