SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The court cleared after shootaround in Sacramento on Monday morning, but two remained: 34-year-old assistant coach Royal Ivey, who looks every bit the player he used to be, and 21-year-old Cameron Payne, who looks every bit the college junior he still should be.
The Thunder rookie and his elder mentor then engaged in a heated one-on-one battle. Ivey took the slender Payne to the post, using his size advantage. Payne stretched Ivey out to the perimeter, using his quickness advantage.
Before exiting for the awaiting bus, Russell Westbrook and Andre Roberson stopped to watch.