As Gary Payton II walked away from his South Bay Lakers teammates during halftime to take a shot on a separate basket, it was clear his first game in the team’s uniform wasn’t going how he would’ve hoped.
Payton mouthed the words to the music blaring throughout the UCLA Health Training Center at halftime before firing two quick shots and getting set to walk back towards his teammates before he saw some friends in the stands, who he laughed and joked with for a moment before rejoining South Bay for the second half.
Whether it was the time to clear his head or the smiles he shared with his supporters, something clicked for Payton in the second half.