Gary Payton II hoped to return to the NBA hardwood, suiting up for the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time this week. After signing a free agent contract in the Summer of 2022, the guard has been recovering from abdominal surgery and reconditioning himself to the rigors of professional basketball. But as Blazers writer Casey Holdahl reports, Payton will not return yet, missing the chance to line up against his former Golden State Warriors teammates in Portland’s game tomorrow night.
Gary Payton II (return to competition reconditioning) is out for Friday's game versus Golden State.