Gary Payton II (1992- )

February 28, 2024

Gary Payton II with the Washington Wizards in 2020

Photo by AlexanderJonesi (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Gary Dwayne Payton II is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. Payton II was born on December 1, 1992, to parents NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton and Monique James in Seattle, Washington. As a junior and senior playing college basketball for the Oregon State Beavers, Payton was named first-team ALL-Pac 12 and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Payton II would have his first start in the NBA on November 22, 2017, against the Phoenix Suns. Payton II received his championship ring with the Golden State Warriors on December 31, 2022.

Payton II has received the NBA’s 2021-22 Bob Lanier Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente. The Gary Payton II Foundation, which he created, received a $75,000 donation from the NBA and Kaiser Permanente. The award, which recognizes Payton’s sustained community outreach in support of Bay Area youth over the course of the season, was determined by fan votes on social media and the NBA executive panel. Payton II, who was awarded the January 2022 monthly NBA Cares Community Assist Award, was selected among the league’s 633 players because of his outstanding commitment to serving his community.

In the 2021-2022 season, Payton II launched the GPII Foundation, a nonprofit aimed to act as a conduit for Dyslexia-awareness and to support early screening, detection, and certified assessment for youth and young adults with language-based learning challenges. The foundation will provide funding for educators to get certified in early intervention services and support for students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Dyslexia typically presents with primary difficulties in the area of phonological components of language.

Payton hosted his first-ever Reading Rally with Decoding Dyslexia for students affected by learning disabilities. His own personal struggle with dyslexia led to the Warriors expanding their Read to Achieve program to specifically include students with learning disabilities. In addition, Payton leads the team in appearances and has taken part in numerous Warriors initiatives including two Season of Giving events as well as the team’s Black History Month Celebration.

Author Profile

Secret Charles-Ford

Secret Charles-Ford, Ed.D, graduated from the School of Educational Leadership & Change at Fielding Graduate University (2014). Dr. Charles-Ford earned two master degrees while attending Antioch University, Seattle. Her first graduate degree was earned in the Environment & Community program (2004) with a second graduate degree earned in Education (2007). Dr. Charles-Ford earned her undergraduate degree through the Department of Geography at the University of Washington (2001). Charles-Ford has been writing for Blackpast.org since 2007.

In 2012, Dr. Charles-Ford published her first book titled Vietnam, PTSD, and Therapy: Survived All That!. The book is about one person’s account and experience as a military personnel and a combat veteran. Vietnam, PTSD, and Therapy: Survived All That! is available for purchase through Amazon.com. In 2015, Charles-Ford co-founded the Imagine the Possibilities: A Community Book Study Group. The goal of this book study group is to deepen understanding, critical thinking, and engagement through discussions, sharing insights, and reflections. Members strive to foster a richer appreciation for literature and promote learning and growth. Since the book groups’ inception, three women have published their own books.

In 2024, Ford was invited to join the Renton Rowing Center Board of Directors serving as the Youth Director. The Renton Rowing Center’s mission is to encourage people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to discover community on and off the water.

Categories:
African American History People

Tags:
20th Century (1900-1999) Gender - Men Occupation - Sports - Basketball United States - California United States - Oregon United States - Washington

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CITE THIS ENTRY IN APA FORMAT:

Charles-Ford, S. (2024, February 28). Gary Payton II (1992- ). BlackPast.org. https://new.blackpast.org/african-american-history/gary-payton-ii-1992/

Source of the Author's Information:

“Gary Payton II Receives NBA’s Season long Bob Lanier Community Assist Award, presented by Kaiser Permanente” (May 31, 2022) NBA Golden State Warriors https://www.nba.com/warriors/news/gary-payton-ii-receives-nba-seasonlong-bob-lanier-community-assist-award-20220531; “Gary Payton II Awarded January NBA Community Cares Community Assist Award” (March 11, 2022); NBA Cares https://gpiifoundation.org/golden-state-warriors-gary-payton-ii-receives-january-nba-cares-community-assist-award%EF%BF%BC/; Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children (2021) https://www.dyslexiaallianceforblackchildren.org/what-is-dyslexia.