After an extended absence from the NBA, veteran level guard and former first-round decide Elfrid Payton is again in enterprise within the league. And that is solely his third match since his official return to the league. by way of cope with the New Orleans PelicansPayton managed to do one thing no different participant has carried out thus far in the course of the 2024-25 NBA season.
On Monday night time, Payton, who was chosen tenth total by the Philadelphia 76ers within the 2014 NBA Draft, recorded a complete of 21 assists towards the Indiana Pacers. These have been the probably the most dimes misplaced by a participant this season.
Payton might have spent quite a lot of time away from the NBA earlier than the Pelicans gave him an opportunity, however he by no means forgot to set the desk for his teammates. He additionally had his followers buzzing on social media for his selflessness on the court docket, albeit in a 114-110 loss to the Pacers.
“Magical LEGEND of Orlando” commented a consumer X (previously Twitter).
From one other commentator: “Consider he wasn’t within the league just some weeks in the past. Glad Elfrid Payton is again within the league and in nice form, I keep in mind watching him in the course of the Orlando Magic days. 14 factors and 21 assists is loopy. He has at all times been a triple double menace. »
“He determined to be Magic Johnson for no purpose.” job a social media consumer.
“Nice match from an important man. He ought to by no means have waited 3 years for an additional NBA contract,” he stated. completely different remark learn.
A catch learn: “This man reappeared out of nowhere after 2 years to get away with it for every week and can disappear once more”
“He wasn’t even on an inventory 2 weeks in the past and now he is having the very best help sport of the season. Mad,” amazed a consumer
Associated New Orleans Pelicans InformationArticle continues under
Elfrid Payton shines amid Pelicans’ loss to Pacers
Payton’s help complete eclipsed all the opposite good issues he did on the court docket towards Indiana. In addition to his assists, Payton, 30, additionally scored 14 factors on environment friendly 7-of-11 taking pictures from the sphere and grabbed seven rebounds. He had 5 turnovers, however these have been regular contemplating all of the play he did for his teammates.
The Pelicans determined to recruit Payton for a one-year contract value $2.49 million amid a sequence of accidents. Will probably be fascinating to see what position he performs as soon as New Orleans is a little bit more healthyhowever what is definite for the time being is that he has been a implausible pickup for the Pelicans, who’re 4-14.
Rexwell Villas is an skilled sports activities author masking a wide range of sports activities together with NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and school soccer. He’s a graduate of Communication Arts from the College of Santo Tomas within the Philippines.
