Gary Payton II left an astonishing impression on Jimmy Butler among the Golden State Warriors securing the playoff berth.
The dynamic duo of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were the heroes who won the Memphis Grizzlies in the Golden State Warriors 121-116 play-in tournament.
After all, the two superstars combined for a total of 75 points as the Grizzlies didn’t have an answer for them during the recent clash.
But on top of that, some role players also shined in matchups. According to Butler, the list includes Gary Payton II.
Head coach Steve Kerr has gone through some major changes in his rotation this season, hoping to win the playoff berth.
While Jonathan Kuminga’s exclusion was the biggest point of discussion, coaches were able to reward role players with quality minutes.
Payton II benefited from playing 20 minutes with the Grizzlies. At the post-match meeting, Butler only praised his teammates.
“It’s going to be a reason to win some games in the playoffs. What I like most about GP is that he makes sure everyone is calm,” Butler insisted.
Butler’s comments came in light of his 12-point performance against the GP’s Grizzlies. The 32-year-old recorded two rebounds and one assist along with a double-digit scoring night.
read more: Gary Payton II has made his stance clear about his hopes of expanding the Seattle Supersonics NBA.
Jimmy Buckett has seen his fair share of players throughout his 14 years of stint in the league. Plus, Butler has built a reputation for admiring only the hardest-working players on his team.
Butler also revealed how the GP II calms the team. “We’re going to stop. We have to get a bucket and run. He’s going to take some big shots.
“But more than anything, he’s calm, he’s calm and he’s like he was in this League 15 in 16,” Butler concluded.
The Warriors are all planning to take on the Houston Rocket, the second seeded in the opening round, so they want to have this version of the Payton II on the court throughout the series.