 Payton with theOrlando Magic in 2014 | ||||||||||||
| Free agent | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Point guard | |||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||
| Born | (1994-02-22)February 22, 1994 (age 31) Gretna, Louisiana, U.S. | |||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | |||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||
| High school | John Ehret (Jefferson Parish, Louisiana) | |||||||||||
| College | Louisiana (2011–2014) | |||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2014: 1st round, 10th overall pick | |||||||||||
| Drafted by | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||
| Playing career | 2014–present | |||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||
| 2014–2018 | Orlando Magic | |||||||||||
| 2018 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | New Orleans Pelicans | |||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | New York Knicks | |||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||
| 2023 | Fort Wayne Mad Ants | |||||||||||
| 2023 | Osos de Manatí | |||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Indiana Mad Ants | |||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Birmingham Squadron | |||||||||||
| 2024 | New Orleans Pelicans | |||||||||||
| 2025 | Charlotte Hornets | |||||||||||
| 2025 | New Orleans Pelicans | |||||||||||
| Career highlights | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Stats at NBA.com  | ||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | ||||||||||||
Medals
| ||||||||||||
Elfrid Payton Jr. (born February 22, 1994) is an American professionalbasketball player who last played for theNew Orleans Pelicans of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theLouisiana Ragin' Cajuns, winning theLefty Driesell Award as the national college defensive player of the year in 2014. Payton was selected by thePhiladelphia 76ers with the 10th overall pick in the2014 NBA draft, but was then traded to theOrlando Magic.
Payton was an unheralded recruit fromJohn Ehret High School inJefferson Parish, Louisiana. He chose to attendLouisiana–Lafayette, and after a promising freshman season in2011–12, Payton came into his own as a sophomore in 2012–13. He averaged 15.9points, 5.6rebounds, 5.5assists and 2.4steals per game[1] and was named first team All-Sun Belt Conference.[2]
After his breakout sophomore season, Payton was a late addition to Team USA's U19 World Championships Trials Roster to compete in the2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. After making the team, Payton started in all nine games for Team USA, on a team loaded with talent including other players such asMarcus Smart,Aaron Gordon,Jahlil Okafor andJarnell Stokes. The team ultimately defeated the Serbian team led byVasilije Micić and won the gold medal, going 9–0 in the tournament.[3]
As a junior in2013–14, Payton emerged as one of the top defensive players in college basketball. He raised his averages to 19.2 points, 5.9 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game and led the Ragin' Cajuns to the2014 NCAA Tournament. He was again named first team All-Sun Belt and was the conference Defensive Player of the Year. At the end of the season, he was named the National Defensive Player of the Year by winning the Lefty Driesell Award.[4]
In April 2014, Payton declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.[5]
On June 26, 2014, Payton was selected with the 10th overall pick in the2014 NBA draft by thePhiladelphia 76ers. He was traded to theOrlando Magic on draft night forDario Šarić, a future first-round pick, and a future second-round pick.[6] On July 2, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Magic.[7] He made his NBA debut on October 29, 2014, in a loss to theNew Orleans Pelicans. On January 16, 2015, Payton had a season-best game with 22 points and 12 assists in a loss to theMemphis Grizzlies. He was subsequently named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January and was named a Rising Stars Challenge participant.[8][9] On March 18, he recorded his first careertriple-double with 15 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a loss to theDallas Mavericks.[10] With a second straight triple-double recorded by Payton on March 20, he became the first Magic player to post consecutive triple-doubles and the first NBA rookie to do it sinceAntoine Walker, with the Boston Celtics in 1997. Payton's 22 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists helped the Magic claim a 111–104 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[11]
On November 18, 2015, Payton scored a then career-high 24 points in a 104–101 win over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[12] Payton appeared in 116 straight games to begin his career before a left ankle injury forced him to sit out four games in early January 2016. He returned to action on January 14 in London to face theToronto Raptors, coming off the bench for the first time in 2015–16 and recording four points and four rebounds in a 106–103 overtime loss.[13] On March 23, 2016, he recorded his third career triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 118–102 loss to theDetroit Pistons.[14]
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On December 6, 2016, Payton scored 22 of his career-high 25 points in the first half of the Magic's 124–116 win over theWashington Wizards.[15] He bested that mark on December 13, 2016, recording career highs with 26 points and 14 assists in a 131–120 win over theAtlanta Hawks.[16] On January 14, 2017, he had a career-high 28 points and added nine rebounds and nine assists in a 114–107 loss to theUtah Jazz.[17] On March 6, 2017, he had his first triple-double of the season with 16 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds in a 113–105 loss to theNew York Knicks.[18] Two days later, he had his second straight triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in a 98–91 win over theChicago Bulls.[19] On March 13, 2017, in a 120–115 loss to theSacramento Kings, Payton had 13 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his third triple-double of the season.[20] On March 24, he continued his impressive run with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 115–87 win over theDetroit Pistons. It was his fourth triple-double in 10 games and seventh of his career.[21] Seven days later, he recorded a career-high 15 assists to go with 12 points and nine rebounds in a 117–116 loss to theBoston Celtics.[22] On April 1, he had 20 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds for his fifth triple-double of the season in the Magic's 121–111 loss to theBrooklyn Nets.[23]
Payton missed eight games early on the season 2017–18 season because of a left hamstring injury.[24] An important piece in the Magic's offense, he had 11 points and 11 assists in 29 minutes in his return on November 8, helping the team end a two-game losing streak with a 112–99 win over theNew York Knicks.[24] On November 22, he had a season-high 13 assists in a 124–118 loss to theMinnesota Timberwolves.[25] On December 23, 2017, he scored a career-high 30 points in a 130–103 loss to theWashington Wizards.[26]
On February 8, 2018, Payton was traded to thePhoenix Suns in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick.[27] He made his debut for the Suns two days later, recording 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds in 35 minutes in a 123–113 loss to theDenver Nuggets.[28] In his second game for the Suns on February 12, Payton scored a game-high 29 points in a 129–83 loss to theGolden State Warriors.[29] Two days later, he had a triple-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a 107–97 loss to theUtah Jazz.[30] On March 4, 2018, he had 11 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high 14 assists in a 113–112 loss to theAtlanta Hawks.[31] It was his second triple-double in nine games with the Suns—his nine games needed with the team to record two triple-doubles are the fewest ever by a Suns player.[32]
On July 9, 2018, Payton signed with his hometown team theNew Orleans Pelicans.[33] In his debut for the Pelicans in their season opener on October 17, 2018, Payton recorded 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 131–112 win over theHouston Rockets. Payton's minimalist triple-double made him the first player to record exactly 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a single game since March 2, 2013, whenKyle Lowry did it for Toronto. It was Payton's 11th career triple-double.[34] On November 16, against theNew York Knicks, Payton returned to the lineup after missing nine games with a sprained right ankle, only to fracture a finger in his left hand after eight minutes on the court.[35] He was subsequently ruled out for approximately six weeks.[36] He returned to action on December 31 against theMinnesota Timberwolves after a 22-game absence.[37] In his second game back on January 2, he scored 25 points in a 126–121 loss to theBrooklyn Nets.[38] On March 10, he had 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 128–116 loss to theAtlanta Hawks.[39] On March 12, he had his second consecutive triple-double with 14 points, a career-high 15 rebounds and 11 assists in a 130–113 loss to theMilwaukee Bucks, becoming the first New Orleans player to have a triple-double in consecutive games sinceChris Paul in 2008.[40] On March 15, he had his third consecutive triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists in a 122–110 loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[41] The next day, he recorded his fourth straight triple-double with 16 points, 16 assists and 13 rebounds in a 138–136 overtime loss to thePhoenix Suns, joiningJames Harden,Magic Johnson,Michael Jordan andRussell Westbrook as the only players since the 1983–84 season to record triple-doubles in as many as four straight games,[42][43] and eighth in NBA history.[44] Payton recorded his fifth consecutive triple-double two days later with 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 129–125 overtime win over theDallas Mavericks.[45] He also tied Chris Paul for most triple-doubles in a season in franchise history with six, and became only the fifth player to record five consecutive triple-doubles, joiningWilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan,Oscar Robertson, and Russell Westbrook.[46]
On July 9, 2019, Payton signed a reported two-year deal with theNew York Knicks.[47][48][49] He struggled with injuries early in the season, missing 17 straight games.[50][51][52][53] Upon returning, he provided playmaking ability the Knicks were lacking and was promoted to the starting lineup.[54] On January 31, 2020, Payton received a one-game suspension for pushingJae Crowder in a January 29 game against theMemphis Grizzlies.[55] On February 3, Payton recorded the 17th triple-double of his career with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 15 assists in a 139–134 overtime win over theCleveland Cavaliers.[56][57] In the next game, on February 6, he recorded 15 points, nine assists and a career-high seven steals in a 105–103 win over theOrlando Magic.[58] On November 19, 2020, the Knicks waived Payton.[59] On November 29, Payton was re-signed by the Knicks to a reported one-year contract.[60][61]
On August 10, 2021, Payton signed with thePhoenix Suns.[62]
On February 6, 2023, it was reported that Payton would sign withOsos de Manatí of theBaloncesto Superior Nacional.[63] Two days later on February 8, 2023, theFort Wayne Mad Ants announced that they had acquired the player right to Payton.[64]
On March 31, 2023, Payton signed withOsos de Manatí of thePuerto Rican league.[65]
On September 29, 2023, Payton signed with theIndiana Pacers,[66] but was waived a day later.[67] On October 15, he signed with theCairns Taipans for a single game as an 'emergency replacement' player[68] and came off the bench against theToronto Raptors in aNBLxNBA preseason game.[69]
On October 28, 2023, Payton joined theIndiana Mad Ants.[70] During the2023–24 season, Payton led theNBA G League in assists per game and earnedAll–NBA G League Third Team honors, helping the Mad Ants reach the 2024 playoffs. On October 3, 2024, as a result of Payton signing a training camp deal with theNew Orleans Pelicans, the Mad Ants traded his rights to theBirmingham Squadron for the rights toLanders Nolley II.[71]
On October 11, 2024, Payton signed with theNew Orleans Pelicans,[72] but was waived five days later.[73] On October 28, he joined theBirmingham Squadron[74] and on November 20, he re-signed with the Pelicans.[75] He immediately moved into the starting lineup for the Pelicans' game that night against theCleveland Cavaliers, recording 11 points, five rebounds, and eight assists in 22 minutes in a 128–100 loss.[76] On November 25, Payton recorded a career high of 21 assists in a 114–110 loss against theIndiana Pacers.[77] On December 3, he was waived by the Pelicans[78] and four days later, he rejoined Birmingham.[79]
On February 7, 2025, Payton signed a 10-day contract with theCharlotte Hornets.[80] On February 18, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Hornets.[81] In 6 total games for the Hornets, Payton averaged 1.0 point, 2.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists.[82]
On March 21, 2025, Payton signed a 10-day contract with theNew Orleans Pelicans, for his third stint with the Pelicans during the season. During his first seven games with the franchise in the season, Payton was averaging 6.7 points, 6.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.9 turnovers.[83] On April 2, Payton signed a second 10-day contract with the Pelicans.[84] On April 11, Payton re-signed with New Orleans on a two-year standard contract, enabling him to play in the team's season finale against theOklahoma City Thunder.[85]
In the summer of 2013, Payton was a surprise selection to the United States team for the2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in nine games.[3]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Orlando | 82 | 63 | 30.3 | .425 | .262 | .551 | 4.3 | 6.5 | 1.7 | .2 | 8.9 |
| 2015–16 | Orlando | 73 | 69 | 29.4 | .436 | .326 | .589 | 3.6 | 6.4 | 1.2 | .3 | 10.7 |
| 2016–17 | Orlando | 82* | 58 | 29.4 | .471 | .274 | .692 | 4.7 | 6.5 | 1.1 | .5 | 12.8 |
| 2017–18 | Orlando | 44 | 44 | 28.6 | .520 | .373 | .632 | 4.0 | 6.3 | 1.5 | .4 | 13.0 |
| Phoenix | 19 | 19 | 29.0 | .435 | .200 | .685 | 5.3 | 6.2 | 1.0 | .3 | 11.8 | |
| 2018–19 | New Orleans | 42 | 42 | 29.8 | .434 | .314 | .743 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 1.0 | .4 | 10.6 |
| 2019–20 | New York | 45 | 36 | 27.7 | .439 | .203 | .570 | 4.7 | 7.2 | 1.6 | .4 | 10.0 |
| 2020–21 | New York | 63 | 63 | 23.6 | .432 | .286 | .682 | 3.4 | 3.2 | .7 | .1 | 10.1 |
| 2021–22 | Phoenix | 50 | 1 | 11.0 | .383 | .222 | .375 | 1.8 | 2.0 | .5 | .1 | 3.0 |
| 2024–25 | New Orleans | 7 | 3 | 20.5 | .500 | .000 | .500 | 3.4 | 6.9 | 1.4 | .4 | 6.7 |
| Charlotte | 6 | 2 | 20.6 | .143 | — | — | 2.2 | 3.3 | 1.0 | .5 | 1.0 | |
| Career | 513 | 400 | 26.6 | .446 | .287 | .623 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 1.2 | .3 | 9.9 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | New York | 2 | 2 | 6.5 | .000 | — | .500 | .0 | .5 | .5 | .0 | .5 |
| 2022 | Phoenix | 2 | 0 | 3.8 | .667 | — | — | .0 | 1.5 | .0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Career | 4 | 2 | 5.2 | .250 | — | .500 | .0 | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | 1.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Louisiana | 32 | 10 | 22.7 | .448 | .000 | .564 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 1.2 | .3 | 7.2 |
| 2012–13 | Louisiana | 33 | 33 | 35.5 | .475 | .320 | .643 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 2.4 | .6 | 15.9 |
| 2013–14 | Louisiana | 35 | 35 | 35.9 | .509 | .259 | .609 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 2.3 | .6 | 19.2 |
| Career | 100 | 78 | 31.6 | .485 | .268 | .611 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 | .5 | 14.3 | |
Payton is the son of formerCanadian Football League playerElfrid Payton.[1][86]
Payton was well known for his free-flowing hairstyle during his first four seasons in the NBA,[87] before cutting his hair in May 2018.[88] During his time with the Orlando Magic, his hairdo made him a fan favorite.[89]
The only other four players since 1983-84 to record four-straight are Russell Westbrook, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and James Harden.
The only other players in NBA history with four straight triple-doubles are Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Russell Westbrook, Michael Jordan, James Harden and Magic Johnson.[dead link]
Elfrid Payton left the game with a sore right hamstring.
