GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 17, 2024

Gary Payton

Media Conference

Q. How is the calf? What's your overall outlook now?

GARY PAYTON II: Probably going to take a couple more weeks to get it back right, but I'm all right.

Q. More about resting or anything procedure-wise have to happen?

GARY PAYTON II: No, just rest. Rest and rehab.

Q. Between the calf and the other calf and the hamstring and getting sick a few times, how frustrating was it this year not being available as much as you'd like?

GARY PAYTON II: It was a rocky season. It's been that way for the last two seasons. Just go back to the drawing board this summer, tighten it, tune it a little bit tighter, and just kind of more bulletproof my body, take some different routes and just try to get it stronger, better, last longer.

Q. What does going back to the drawing board entail?

GARY PAYTON II: Just going back to the board probably a little earlier, getting into things, taking care of my body, trying some different things for my body and seeing if it works out and if it holds up.

Q. What was going through your head as you had to watch some of that?

GARY PAYTON II: At least seven minutes. I just wanted seven minutes, seven, ten minutes just to get out there in some way. But it was frustrating to sit there and watch, can't do anything. But just gave me motivation, just drove me to take care of my body better this summer and just come back and be ready for 82 next summer.

Q. Have you allowed yourself to process the roster being different next year and key players not being here?

GARY PAYTON II: I don't really think about it. Organization guys are going to do what they do and make sure they put together the best team possible.

Just be ready, adaptable, and just when training camp gets here with guys we got, just be ready to go.

Q. Do you see yourself being a key part of the team next year?

GARY PAYTON II: I hope so, yeah. I would love to come back and run it back. Better yet, just redo my whole deal and stay here for a little bit longer. We'll figure it out.

Q. Give us your take on the game last night. It's kind of hard to break it down, but did your guys seem ready? Just facing a team that was super hot? What happened?

GARY PAYTON II: It was just one of those nights. It was just a bad night to have one of those nights, playing win-or-go-home, instant Game 7. They just came out hot, and it is what it is. It was just one of those days.

Q. What was the mood like after the game and on the ride back and so forth?

GARY PAYTON II: Of course it was frustrating and just unfortunate. But go back to the drawing board this summer, like I said, figure out the roster, do that, come out guns blazing and have a better start.

Q. At the end of the game Klay kind of turned and looked at the crowd, you gave him a couple pats on the chest. Did you have any message for him after the game or was it an unspoken love kind of thing?

GARY PAYTON II: No, just it's a tough one. Like I said, just one of those days. We all can't have great days every day. It was just one of those days. Klay is Klay; I think he was just soaking it in, that feeling. Don't want to probably go through that again. Come back next year and make sure we don't have to go through that.

Q. Team-wide, second straight season where definitely a handful of highs and lows, a little bit of a roller coaster. Where do you think guys can find the consistency to stay even keel and keep climbing up next season?

GARY PAYTON II: Just come back locked in, like I said, come back more in tune, more locked in, healthy, and just come back ready to get back to what we was doing, playing Warriors basketball, come out with a defensive mindset early and just continue to be consistent throughout the season. We had some ups and downs, but just try to limit those ups and downs and try to have more consistent runs.

Q. Given you're talking about playing a big part in next year's team and maybe getting a new deal for longer term, I get the sense there's no doubt you're going to pick up that player option for next year; is that right?

GARY PAYTON II: Yeah, we're going to figure it out, if we can redo it and get it done. That would be great. But right now this moment, take some time and let this ease out.

But definitely for sure figure it out. For sure.