For the second time in the first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, the good play of a former Oklahoma City Thunder guard grabbed the notice of players, reporters and fans around the league.
It wasn’t Chris Paul, who has struggled since injuring his shoulder in Game 1.
It wasn’t Dennis Schroder, who has had an up-and-down first four-and-a-half games.
It was Cameron Payne, who was drafted by the Thunder in 2015, spent the next few years bouncing around the league, and then was out of the NBA until the Suns made a call prior to the bubble in 2020.
Since, Payne has been the backup point guard of a team that went 8-0 in the bubble and then won the second-most games in the NBA this season.
Against the Lakers, he has been one of the best players on the Suns.
In Game 5, Payne scored 10 points in the first quarter and finished the half with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting. The Suns led Los Angeles 66-33 at halftime.
This earned praise from people including Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant.
😂 what they gon say now . @campayne https://t.co/E86rEVt2Ol
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) June 2, 2021
Payne’s impact cannot be overstated. The Suns, who for years were plagued with poor point guard play — remember that season in which they started a rookie second-round draft pick and whose backup was a rookie second-round draft pick? — were suddenly at another crossroads when Paul injured his shoulder. The future Hall of Famer played through the injury, but he lacked strength in his passes, had a loose handle, and did not attempt a single 3-pointer in Games 2 or 3.
Payne took the closing point guard minutes, helping the Suns win Game 1 and then very nearly pushing them to a comeback in Game 2 as he scored 19 points. Los Angeles controlled Game 3, though Payne scored 15.
He’s on pace to break both those marks in Game 5.
After a brief stop in China, Payne got a chance in the NBA and did not relinquish it.
This playoff series, he has been the best of the former Thunder guards. Paul’s injury has clearly hampered him. Schroder had a pair of 20-plus point games, but he scored eight in Game 4 and was scoreless the first half of Game 5.
Payne has shown he’s an NBA rotation player capable of a playoff role.