What happened to Gary Payton II? NBA insider breaks brutal setback for Warriors guard

The Golden State Warriors have been dealt terrible news about Gary Payton II. The guard/forward, one of their most reliable players, suffered a torn ligament in his left thumb that will keep him sidelined indefinitely ahead of the playoffs.

NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Thursday that Payton will be unavailable for an extended period.

"Golden State Warriors G/F Gary Payton II has sustained a torn ligament in his left thumb and will be out for an indefinite period, sources tell ESPN. Brutal blow to the Warriors’ rotation," Charania tweeted.

The Warriors have 10 games left on the calendar and not having Payton on the court can ruin everything they've built since Jimmy Butler was traded from the Miami Heat.

Gary Payton II had played 58 games before this injury, averaging 14.9 minutes, 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, shooting 58.5% from the field and 71.1% from the free-throw line.

The Warriors are in the middle of a two-game winning streak after losing to the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat in their most recent matchups. They return to action on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans to continue their six-game road trip. The final chunk of the regular season will have the Warriors face complex opponents such as the Memphis Grizzlies, LA Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers.

Gary Payton played the second-most games of his NBA career in 2024-25

Entering Tuesday night's duel against the Miami Heat, Gary Payton II had played the second-most games in his eight-year career (71 games in 2021-22 when the Warriors won their most recent championship). His numbers were getting better in the last 16 games, as he posted 10.4 points while shooting 65% from the field and 50% from deep.

The Warriors hold the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference standings right now, but losing Gary Payton II for an unknown period can have major repercussions on the season.