The Raptors 905 awards and honours continue.
Gary Payton II is the 2020-2021 G League Defensive Player of the Year. Payton II joins Edy Tavares (2017) and Chris Boucher (2019) as the 905 players in franchise history to earn this achievement.
It’s in his DNA!
Congrats to the @nbagleague Defensive Player of the Year GPll.#RoadToTheSix pic.twitter.com/zxMaTMWMia
— Raptors 905 (@Raptors905) March 19, 2021
The award was voted on by head coaches and general managers throughout the G League. Guard Tahjere McCall (Lakeland Magic) and forward Mamadi Diakite (Lakeland Magic) finished second and third in voting respectively.
The Raptors 905 selected Payton II with the 15th pick in the 2021 G League Draft. The guard played a critical part in the 905’s G-League leading 12-3 record, where they advanced to the semifinal round of the playoffs.
“This organization has been great,” Payton II said. “They really, really key on developing guys down here in trusting them and giving them opportunities to go up to the Raptors and continue to buy into their system and what the organization has put together.”
Payton II led the G League with 2.54 steals per game, and second overall in total steals (33). He finished the season posting averages of 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 13 games played.
Payton II’s award with the 905 is added to his personal trophy case that consists of 2019 G League All-Defensive First Team and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016).
