Veteran guard Gary Payton II is making “good progress” in his recovery from a right adductor injury, but still isn’t close to playing for the Warriors, the team announced on Monday evening.
According to the Warriors’ announcement, Payton has been doing daily physical rehab work with the training staff to strengthen his adductor/core and has also begun taking part in various on-court activities, including shooting. The plan is for him to intensify his on-court workouts in the coming days to see how he responds.
He’ll be re-evaluated in 10 days, per the club.
Payton was at the center of the most controversial trade of the 2022-23 season, failing his physical with Golden State last month after the team agreed to reacquire him from Portland at the deadline. The Warriors weighed their options during the weekend after the trade deadline and ultimately decided to move forward with the deal rather than nixing the entire four-team agreement.
Payton, who underwent adductor surgery during the offseason, had returned to action for the Trail Blazers and appeared in 15 games this season, but was said to be playing through pain. The Warriors didn’t realize the full extent of his adductor issues and were unable to amend the terms of the trade after the deadline had passed.
Even though Payton will be reevaluated next Thursday, there’s no guarantee he’ll be cleared to play at that point. Still, the Warriors reportedly remain hopeful that he’ll be ready to go before the postseason tips off next month.
Golden State has won seven of its last 10 games, strengthening its position in the Western Conference playoff race. The Dubs are now 36-33, good for fifth in the West. They hold a one-game lead on the seventh-place Timberwolves and a 2.5-game cushion on the 11th-seeded Thunder.
