The Warriors are optimistic that Gary Payton II might return ahead of schedule from his fractured left elbow.
“We’re not ruling him out for the whole conference finals, but we’re not saying he’s going to play, either,” Steve Kerr said in his return to the podium on Sunday. “It would be a long shot for him to play, but I think it’s a possibility.”
Payton was originally expected to miss a month after being knocked out of the lineup on May 3. Game 7 of the West Finals would take place on May 30, meaning any return for Payton this series would be a quicker recovery than initially expected.
“He won’t play to start out the series but the good thing with it being an elbow, he is able to do a lot of things on the court,” Kerr said. “He is able to work his conditioning and his movement. If it was a knee or a foot and you can’t do anything on the court, it takes a lot longer to recover.
“All in all, Gary is doing well, we just don’t know his availability. But, he is able to maintain his conditioning and do some things out on the court, which is important.”
Payton — who is left-handed — is no longer wearing a brace on the left arm, but doesn’t have enough strength yet to begin upper body workouts.
Payton injured the arm during Game 2 of the previous series, landing awkwardly after he was hit in the head by Dillon Brooks on a fastbreak. Brooks was issued a Flagrant 2 and suspended for Game 3. Payton says the two have spoken and that he isn’t harboring any ill will.
“It’s all good,” Payton said. “It’s a basketball play. I know he didn’t mean it. No hard feelings, no bad blood.”
“NBA playoff foul, that’s about it. It is what it is. It happened. Just didn’t catch myself and things happened. But it’s past me. It’s behind me. I’m just trying to work and continue to strengthen my arm and get back, get ready to come back and help my team.”