From going undrafted in 2016 to building a name for himself in the NBA, Gary Payton II’s life is as inspiring as his father’s. He grinded through days in the G League, moved to NBA teams, then back to the G League. His father was with him throughout this time, guiding him as he carved his path. However, like a true coach, Gary Payton Sr. never let his son take the easy road and kept the toughness throughout. He always told him to be himself and not try to be his father. He taught this to his son, only to witness Stephen Curry’s influence on him as he ranted about it during his latest interview.
Leaving his “journeyman” label, Gary Dwayne Payton II found a home with the Warriors in 2021. During their 2021–22 championship run, he emerged as the team’s defensive engine. He averaged 7.1 points per game with career-best shooting splits. His father, who witnessed his son finally make it happen, is obviously proud. During the latest episode of Bars with Brownie and Rab, he was asked about his son and whether he gets mad or frustrated while watching his son play during the game.
Gary Payton was quick to agree and even went on to add how “mad” he gets sometimes. “I’m be like “Yo how many m————– times y’all going to shoot a three man?” And knowing it ain’t going in right now and this team is coming back down and putting y’all in the bucket and now how many times is you going to understand that you gonna shoot eight jump shots okay,” he argued.
Well, Payton Sr. doesn’t hold many impressive stats when it comes to this one particular field. As per Statmuse, he had a three-point percentage of 31.7 in his career. He added how his son is focused on three-pointers. This is where Stephen Curry comes in. With his three-pointers, Curry revolutionized the league. The Warriors relied heavily on three-pointers, and now that trend has been passed on to other teams as well.
Dec 15, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
And this has caused many to believe that NBA games have turned boring because of three-pointers. The sudden drop in NBA TV viewership ratings caused a big stir. As per Sports Media Watch, ratings for the first two days of the 2024–2025 NBA season dropped by 47% compared to last year. This led to major drama, where many, including Payton’s former teammate Shaquille O’Neal, also shared their takes.
What did Shaquille O’Neal say about Stephen Curry’s 3-pointer influence?
What does he think? The Big Aristotle didn’t hesitate as he shared his take on the game. Speaking on The Big Podcast, the 4x NBA champion detailed that the game has become “boring” and “predictable.” He believes this is why people have stopped watching. “I have a theory. It’s down because we’re looking at the same thing. Everybody’s running the same plays. At the top of the key, dribble handoff,” he asserted.
The reason? He thinks it could be the same strategy that helped the Warriors win. Don’t misunderstand him. He loves the Warriors’ three-pointers and strongly supports and urges fans to include Curry in the GOAT conversation. But he is skeptical of 3-point shots. However, he explained that not all teams are three-point shooters and yet adopt the same strategy.
“Steph Curry and those guys messed it up. I didn’t mind Golden State back in the day shooting threes, but not every team is a three-point shooter, so why does everybody have the same strategy?” the Los Angeles Lakers legend argued. Well, many, including Adam Silver, don’t share the same opinion.
While the debate still simmers, it’s clear basketball has entered its three-point renaissance — a revolution sparked by Steph Curry’s gravity-defying range. But not everyone sees fireworks in the flurry of threes; some, like Lakers legend Michael Cooper, see chaos where there was once structure. Has strategy given way to spectacle? Or is this simply evolution, the game stretching its limits like never before? Whether you crave old-school balance or live for the long-range drama, the court remains the canvas — and every era, its own masterpiece. While the debate is still up, what is your take on this?
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