Warriors lose key guard to another multiple-week injury

Gary Payton II’s return from injury lasted for all of 20 total minutes.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the Warriors guard is set to miss several weeks with a left hamstring strain. The blow for Payton comes just two games after he returned from a calf injury that had kept him sidelined for a month.

Payton exited in the third quarter of Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, which Golden State won 121-115, with the injury. He later posted a telling GIF to his X account from the movie “Half-Baked.” The GIF read, “Man, this is some bulls–”.

The 16-17 Warriors need all the help that they can get defensively right now as they are just 18th in defensive efficiency this season (per ESPN). 

A lot of that is owed to the continued absence of Draymond Green, who is still out serving his indefinite suspension and the noticeable regression of usual perimeter-stoppers like Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins.

Payton, whose calling card is his defense, has had some big health issues in the past (including one that very nearly jettisoned a trade). 

Given Payton’s history and the nature of hamstring injuries, it would be a surprise if he returned to action again before the All-Star break.