We’ve known for a while — ever since a four-team trade got delayed — that Gary Payton II wouldn’t be playing a game for the Golden State Warriors anytime soon. The hope was always that he could return for the playoffs, and ideally a little bit before then to begin the process of reintegrating himself with the offensive and defensive systems that he flourished in a year ago.
None of that has changed, but as the season winds down, Payton is, predictably, getting closer. The Warriors released an injury update earlier this week stating that Payton has “started various on-court activities,” and that he “will begin to intensify the on-court workouts in the coming days.