NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 1, 2022

Gary Payton

Golden State Warriors

Media Day

Q. Gary, how you feeling?

GARY PAYTON II: You know, trying to get there. Trying to feel better every day, get better every day. But excited, ready to go.

Q. If you had to put a status on it, where are you at?

GARY PAYTON II: Still got a couple boxes to check off. Still not quite there yet. But excited. Getting better every day so...

Still got a couple boxes to check off.

Q. What would have to happen before you play?

GARY PAYTON II: What has to happen?

Q. Yes.

GARY PAYTON II: A couple green lights from some guys. Other than that, I'm ready to go.

Q. How about this big stage? All the pomp and circumstance.

GARY PAYTON II: Yes, it's unbelievable. Like I said last, what, 29 years I've been watching them from home. It's crazy just to be here and experiencing just this energy and this vibe. It's unbelievable.

I'm just trying to take it in and enjoy it.

Q. Have any of the guys besides your dad told you what to expect?

GARY PAYTON II: No, I haven't even talked to Gary actually in a couple days.

Yeah, I heard it was crazy. I got a couple champions on this team. They said it's pretty crazy around this time. Just embrace it, stay locked in.

Q. What do you remember about watching your dad in the Finals? What kind of experience can you take from that?

GARY PAYTON II: Actually, I was in Miami. I was just running around the arena. I didn't really quite watch too many of the games until the last close-out game. Just an environment that's hectic, it's crazy. You know everybody's family, everybody's here. You know it's going to be good to see everybody, have this experience with everybody.

Q. Having the champions in the locker room already, what have the conversations been like?

GARY PAYTON II: Just like I said, they know it's going to be crazy, like I said, with media, cameras everywhere, every day. Just try to stay locked in. Don't do nothing crazy, stay locked in, try to get this done. We can have all the fun after.

Q. Does it feel more intense?

GARY PAYTON II: Yeah, this might be the most cameras I've had in my face all season. All career actually.

Like I said, we're going to lock in but enjoy it at the same time.

Q. How have the ticket requests been?

GARY PAYTON II: I don't think my salary covers the tickets. I'm trying to work around it right now and get it figured out [laughter].

We knew it was going to be crazy, so you got to do what you got to do sometimes.

Q. Have you heard from somebody from second grade, third grade, you haven't heard from in years?

GARY PAYTON II: There's a couple, there's a few from back in Seattle, early ages in Vegas. They are all my peoples and I appreciate the support from everywhere. Old family members and old friends come back, and it's good to see them.

Q. Have you taken a moment to reflect on your journey?

GARY PAYTON II: Not yet. We still got a couple more games to win. Maybe after that I'll sit down and reflect on it, enjoy it, just take it all in. But right now we still got work to do.

Q. What do you expect your impact to be once you hit the floor?

GARY PAYTON II: Hopefully you get to see the OGP before the Playoffs, the first round of Playoffs. Other than that, I'm ready to go.

Q. You said you haven't talked to your dad yet. Is that a conversation you plan to have before tip-off tomorrow?

GARY PAYTON II: I don't think there's nothing he can really tell me at this point. Just go out there and be myself, as usual. Be aggressive, go out and have fun.

He's kind of toned it down a lot since school so... Hopefully that's a good thing. It's a good thing. I'm sure I'll hear from him after the game.

Q. I assume you read the letter your mother wrote for you.

GARY PAYTON II: I have not read that letter yet. I got to read it. They sent it to me this morning, but I got to read it.