Just when things start looking steady for the Warriors in the NBA, here comes another injury cloud rolling in.
Gary Payton II, one of the most underrated defensive guards in the league, is questionable for Thursday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. He is reported to have some left knee soreness. Not exactly what Dub Nation wanted to hear right now.
Gary Payton II’s Status: Soreness Or Something More?
Let’s be real—this ain’t the first time GP2’s been banged up this season. He has already missed two games since February, and now there’s a chance he’s about to sit again.
Gary Payton II is questionable tomorrow night for Warriors vs Raptors. Left knee soreness. Otherwise clean injury report for GSW. Toronto is resting RJ Barrett.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 20, 2025
The Warriors’ defensive glue, and a player who does the dirty work without hesitation—all at risk of being sidelined.
Over his last seven games, Payton’s been balling—dropping 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 steals in 22.9 minutes per game. That’s big-time production for someone who doesn’t need plays run for him. His on-ball pressure, sneaky cuts, and hustle have been key for Golden State’s playoff push.
But now? That left knee soreness has him in doubt, and that means Steve Kerr has some decisions to make. If GP2 sits, expect Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga to step in, but for real, they ain’t Payton on defense.
Can The Warriors Handle Toronto Without Him?
The Raptors are already down RJ Barrett, which is a big break for Golden State. But don’t jump so quickly, Toronto still ain’t a cakewalk. Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl know how to make life miserable for opposing defenses, and the Warriors will need all hands on deck to contain them.
If Payton doesn’t suit up, Hield and Kuminga will likely have to step into bigger defensive roles—and we all know how that can go. Hield can shoot, but locking players up? That ain’t his bag. Kuminga’s athletic as hell, but he’s still figuring out the defensive IQ side of things.
The biggest question for Golden State: Can they get stops when it matters? The offense will flow with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, but if Toronto starts getting easy buckets, it could get ugly really fast.
Right now, it’s 50/50 on whether GP2 plays. The Warriors will probably see how he feels at shootaround before making a final call. And if the knee’s still barking, they’ll likely sit him. No point risking a long-term issue before the playoffs.
For now, Dub Nation just has to wait and pray that GP2’s knee holds up. If not? The Warriors better be ready for a defensive grind. Because without Payton’s hustle, chaos, and clamps, things could get tricky real quick.