The 2022 NBA Finals get underway on Thursday night when the Golden State Warriors take on the Boston Celtics in Game 1. All of the expected faces will be there, including Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart.
Another player who is now expected to be available to play is Gary Payton II. According to Shams Charania, the Golden State guard will be dressed and available to play after a speedy recovery from an elbow fracture.
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II is on track to dress and be available for Game 1 of the NBA Finals vs. Boston tonight, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Remarkable return process for Payton after fracturing his left elbow on May 3.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 2, 2022
Payton, along with Otto Porter Jr. and Andre Iguodala are considered “questionable” heading into the game, according to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
Payton has been out of the lineup since the infamous play in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals when Memphis’ Dillon Brooks hit Payton from behind while he was going up for a layup. Payton fell hard to the ground and immediately grabbed his left arm. Brooks was ejected from the game and there was bad blood between the two teams for the duration of the series.
Shams has been reporting for a while that Payton was on track to return for the NBA Finals, but the fact that it appears to be happening is huge news, not just for Warriors fans but for the NBA world excited to see whether or not the Celtics can match-up with the franchise that’s been to six of the last eight Finals.
let's gooooooooo https://t.co/kAFAyGaY6g
— Golden State of Mind (@unstoppablebaby) June 2, 2022
I started to write this story minutes after fracturing my left elbow, and all I got was people *laughing* at me. Seems unfair. https://t.co/QzLNeJi2PL https://t.co/eczeQxCzYr
— Grant Brisbee (@GrantBrisbee) June 2, 2022
I was told that his career was over? https://t.co/785szLIcvT
— Nathan Chester (@NathanChester24) June 2, 2022
wow. good for him https://t.co/TFMNkg0xxA
— Prince J. Grimes (@pgprincej) June 2, 2022
Payton set career highs during the regular season with 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game.
[Shams]
