Elfrid Payton embraces role with Suns during his second stint with team

Elfrid Payton usually is one of the last Suns players to leave practices and pregame shootarounds. He's either working on his jumpshot, driving the ball and finishing in the paint, or playing one-on-one against a teammate or one of the assistant coaches. 

“I’m just trying to do my job and stay ready, try to keep this thing going in the right direction," Payton said at Tuesday's practice.

Payton is the last in the team's pecking order of point guards, playing behind Aaron Holiday, Cameron Payne and All-Star Chris Paul.

But Payton was a case of the last shall by first on Sunday when he started, as the Suns beat the Sacramento Kings in overtime, 127-124.

Payton was a non-offensive factor, scoring just one point (0-for-3 FGs), two assists and three turnovers in that victory. But he made up for that with solid contributions on defense as he grabbed four rebounds (three defensive), three steals and two blocks in 18 minutes played as the Suns won their fifth straight contest.

Payton started because Cameron Payne, who's been starting in place of injured Chris Paul since late February's All-Star break, was out from a non-COVID illness. It was Payton's first start this season in 46 game appearances.

Cameron Payne returned to practice Tuesday. He isn't listed on the Suns-Timberwolves injury report before they face off in Minnesota (42-31) on Wednesday. Chris Paul still is listed out despite Suns coach Monty Williams telling the media at Tuesday's practice he's getting "closer" to a possible early retun before the playoffs from a thumb injury.

Payton could possibly get his second consecutive start on Wednesday.

But Williams said he isn't sure if Holiday or Payton will start against Minnesota because Payne looked good in practice. Payne’s status against Minnesota, the first of Phoenix's back-to-back road games before they head to Denver on Thursday, will be based on how much the bug he caught has diminished his energy.

"If he can’t play, I don’t mind starting Elfrid or Aaron," Williams said. "I mean, we’ve been able to do both based on what we think is gonna help us in the game.

"The Chicago game (last Friday), we just feel like Elfrid’s size would help us. And then we had a bit of a rhythm with him in that starting unit from a defensive standpoint. You saw him make some plays in the (Sacramento) game."

The 6-foot-3 Payton's role in his second stint with the Suns is much different from when he started all 19 games when he played for them during the 2017-18 season.

Payton's eight-year career averages are 10.1 points on 44.7% shooting, 4.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals. The Suns had their third-worst season ever in his first go-round with them (21-61), but he was one of their better players, who averaged 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steals. 

The Suns brought back Payton in August 2021 on a one-year veteran minimum following his one-year deal with the New York Knicks last season. 

Payton is averaging career lows 3.0 points, 38.4% FG percentage, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.5 steals in 11.2 minutes this season.

He didn't score in their 129-102 Friday night rout of the Bulls, but he had three rebounds, four assists, one steal and one turnover in 18 minutes. He hasn't made a shot since the Suns began their latest win streak at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 13. Payton scored six points on 3-for-3 shooting and an assist in 8 minutes.

Now, the younger Holiday is getting more playing time than the 28-year-old Payton. In Holiday's 16 games since he was acquired in a trade from the Washington Wizards on Feb. 10, he's averaging 7.6 points, 3.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds and one steal in 17.6 minutes.

“I don’t really look into it, man. Trying to let the game come to me. We winning, bro," Payton said. "We got something special going on here. I’m not about to get caught up in my own situation. The objective is that we get W at the end of the game. That’s what I’m really focused on.”

What's special is the Suns (58-14) are two wins away from clinching the upcoming postseason's top overall seed, and five wins away from breaking the franchise's regular season 62-win record, accomplished in 1993. That's far distant from four seasons ago when the Suns couldn't even sniff being the Western Conference's eighth seed.

Payton said it would be personally mean a lot to him if they achieved that goal, and he starts in either of those two wins. 

If he doesn't, Payton is more concerned about being ready when his name is called as he's bought into the Suns winning culture than his own individual play.

“A lot. Everybody wants to contribute. I think I’ve been doing that," Payton said. "Whether it be in practice helping get guys back, whether it be playing just spot minutes or whatever role it may have been, I think I’ve been contributing and will continue to do that. It would mean a lot. Whatever role they need me to do, that’s what I’m on.”

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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