After recently signing with the Washington Wizards, Gary Payton II made his debut and stuffed the stat sheet to become the seventh reserve in NBA history with at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and five steals in a game.
Payton II played 34 minutes off the bench for an injury-depleted Wizards and showed off his unique skill set.
He led the G-League with 3.2 steals per game, so he immediately contributed on defense with his six steals against the New York Knicks.
“From playing against him when he was in Milwaukee . . . he guarded me a lot. So he was one of their best defenders in guarding me,” Bradley Beal said. “I know he’s really good at that. I know he’s really capable of being a dog.”
Payton II’s six steals were more than his father’s most steals in a game at Madison Square Garden, as he never had more than four there.
