Elfrid Payton

[NewsCopy]

Former Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns standout Elfrid Payton is close to returning to his current professional team, the New York Knicks.

The rest of the story
ESPN 1420

[AirBill]

Knicks' Payton becomes dad and plays all in one day

PHOENIX — Call him the sleepless Knicks starting point guard.

Elfrid Payton became a new father Thursday but didn't want to miss a game because of the milestone.

With his girlfriend giving birth to a baby girl at 9 a.m. on Friday, Payton, who missed the team flight to Phoenix on Thursday, flew out Friday afternoon in time for the game.

The Knicks had called Payton's absence "personal reasons'' as the former Louisiana-Lafayette point guard wanted to keep it quiet.

He showed up at the Talking Stick Resort Arena 80 minutes before tip-off and having missed the morning shootaround.

Incredibly, Payton notched 15 points with six assists and five rebounds.

"It was tough — I barely got sleep,'' Payton said after the 120-112 loss. "I was up basically all night. Nothing was routine about today. I appreciate my teammates sticking with me.''

Payton said he had a few conversations with Knicks brass on whether to rush in.

"We definitely talked about it with the front office,'' Payton said. "We decided to get it done.''

"Really it was his choice,'' interim coach Mike Miller said. "He wanted to be here. We're all excited obviously to see how committed he is to his team, his teammates, how much he wants to play."

Payton started the game 3 of 3, getting easily to the basket, so the hectic day didn't bother him early.

"He'll have plenty of time to warm up,'' Miller said before Payton arrived. "His shooting time is at the end, so he'll get his full shooting time and full warm-up. He'll get his normal pregame workout routine in.''

https://nypost.com/2020/01/04/knicks...medium=twitter

[Boomer]

WOW .... Somebody has been in the weight room ..... the lack of this has no doubt hindered our program ..... Lafayette and crew..listen!

[Turbine]

WOW .... Somebody has been in the weight room ..... the lack of this has no doubt hindered our program ..... Lafayette and crew..listen!

Yeah but not yesterday .... Yesterday he was in the wait room.... He wasnt in the weight room nine months ago either.... But since you bring it up. ... his triple double production is way down.....

[Boomer]

Yeah but not yesterday .... Yesterday he was in the wait room.... He wasnt in the weight room nine months ago either.... But since you bring it up. ... his triple double production is way down.....

......;memories fade and attrition shrinks......that is why ongoing training is essential....so how about if we visit with EP and ask him this Summer?

[Turbine]

......;memories fade and attrition shrinks......that is why ongoing training is essential....so how about if we visit with EP and ask him this Summer?

Never stop training.

[Geaux]

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1222...193479168?s=09

That was pretty crappy on Crowder's part. I'll side with Elfrid on this one.

[Million$Mullet]

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1222...193479168?s=09

That was pretty crappy on Crowder's part. I'll side with Elfrid on this one.

The NBA needs more stuff like this. Crowder acts like a turd and he gets the proper retaliation. Too much buddy buddy crap in today’s NBA

[ManAboutTown]

The NBA needs more stuff like this. Crowder acts like a turd and he gets the proper retaliation. Too much buddy buddy crap in today’s NBA

Absolutely.

Elfrid is a dawg. It’s not a wonder how we fought our way to the dance with him at the helm.

[FeelDaRage]

Not a good look for Payton but at the same time that was a classless move from Crowder especially because he did it in the Knicks arena. I like how everyone is reacting like stuff like this wasn't a common occurence in the 80s and 90s.

[TheRealZeebart]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-EfU7eYDQ

[CharlieK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr-EfU7eYDQ

NM