NEW ORLEANS – Former Louisiana standout Elfrid Payton opens the 2019-20 NBA season as the lone former Sun Belt Conference men's basketball player on the league’s active opening-night rosters when the regular season tips off Tuesday night.
Entering his sixth NBA season, Payton is in his first season as a member of the New York Knicks. He signed a two-year deal with the team on July 9 after playing the 2018-19 season with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Knicks open the season Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. CT on the road against the San Antonio Spurs.