New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne has a new appreciation for the NBA after being forced to play overseas and was even warned by LeBron James.
Payne, 30, signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Knicks in the offseason after proving himself at the Philadelphia 76ers last year, as he attempts to become a major asset in the league. Payne had the world at his feet when being selected 14th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft after he declared following his sophomore season in college.
The Oklahoma City Thunder put their faith in Payne, but he only made one start for the team before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2017. The majority of his time in Oklahoma was spent assigned to the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s D-League affiliate.
Payne has since turned things around, but only after he found himself playing in China to keep his basketball career alive. “The biggest experience was me being waived and going overseas,” Payne told SNY when reflecting on what’s changed in his mindset.
“I don’t want to go back overseas. That’s my identity. I’m going to play my heart out. I’m going to do whatever I gotta do to help the team win.”
After circling Oklahoma, Chicago, and then the Cleveland Cavaliers, Payne ended up playing a short stint in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Shanxi Loongs. Payne was then replaced following a roster restructure and was later acquired by NBA G League team Texas Legends.
Payne found his feet and quickly agreed on a two-season deal with the Phoenix Suns, and the guard averaged over 10 points per game for the first time in the NBA during the 2021-22 season. However, this was also when Payne ran into James during an early-season matchup against the Lakers.
The Suns had a 10-point lead on the Lakers and were racing to victory, and James sent a message to Payne while on the bench as the two players exchanged words. “Stay humble! Come on! You were at home a year and a half ago. Now you wanna pop off,” James shouted.
James was already frustrated as the Lakers made a poor start to the season but singled out Payne due to his inconsistent career in the NBA. Now, as a 30-year-old, Payne has one final lifeline and is determined not to let a huge opportunity in New York go to waste.
The Knicks were in need of a backup guard behind Jalen Brunson, and Payne is seen as a reliable option to fill that hole. However, Payne will have to prove himself as the Knicks drafted Marquette product Tyler Kolek in the second round, and he’s already turned heads in training camp.