Point guards are different. There’s something in their blood, their DNA. There’s a tranquility and poise. And for good reason.
There’s no easing into the NBA for players like Cameron Payne, who have the rock in their hands to start most possessions and in tight situations. When there’s eight seconds left on the shot clock and there are 18 eyeballs staring at you waiting to see what you’re going to create, what do you do? So often for NBA point guards, that feeling of having to display leadership qualities right away can be a harsh reality. Fortunately for Payne, the jovial and smooth Thunder guard entering his second season, that role is a comfortable one.
“You have to lead by example. Everyone is looking at you,” Payne said. “However you react to things, that’s how people follow and react to things. As a point guard you’re level-headed, locked in and focused the rest of the team will be focused.”
Payne comes from a family of athletes and a father who was a point guard. He was always smaller than most kids, and didn���t hit his growth spurt until late before earning a scholarship to Murray State University. There he played two seasons, was the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and got scooped up by the Thunder at number 14 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.
In October’s training camp, there were rumblings that Payne was a player, and could contribute right away. It wasn’t until December that he truly got his chance, with a three game home stand where he averaged 14 minutes per game. When he was thrust into the rotation he provided an undeniable spark, and it propelled him to 17 straight games of at least double digit minutes. In a 131-123 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Payne was sensational, shooting 5-for-6 from the field and to score 16 points to go with three assists.
“Our fans they make it a crazy atmosphere,” Payne said. “To be a part of that was great.”
“Once I got the opportunity, I felt like I was ready. I felt like I prepared for it, and I came out and I played pretty good. I feel like I had gained a lot of electricity, and a lot of people felt like I was a pretty good player. I felt like I was doing a pretty good job during that little stretch.”
There are certain players who just immediately resonate with fans in Oklahoma City, and Payne was one of them. Whether it’s his innocent wonder and awe, his relatable Tennessee twang or exuberant pregame dancing, Payne struck a chord with both his teammates and Thunder fans all over the world. It may seem surface level, but Payne’s charm and enthusiasm is equal parts natural and intentional.
“When I'm on the bench, I just try to get (my teammates) any little ounce of confidence they need to make the next shot or make the next defensive stop,” Payne said. “Even in practice, I just try to talk, keep talking. Anything that gives them confidence, it goes a long way.”
Towards the end of the season and into the postseason, Payne’s minutes dipped but he was still engaged, and even a part of the rotation in the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, which the Thunder won 4-2. The stakes in the playoffs are raised to another degree, and it was valuable for Payne to see that first hand. His preparation went to a higher level, with laser focus on the tendencies of the Spurs’ guards.
“We got that all from learning, listening, and studying the game plan,” Payne said. “In the Spurs series when I was in the rotation, my biggest thing was figure out what Patty Mills did. He and Tony Parker, constantly with one of my coaches, and it helped me defensively. I felt like the game plan in listening, focusing in, and watching other players, it helps a lot.”
Thunder Head Coach Billy Donovan said at the end of the season that he is “excited and optimistic” about Payne’s growth and development, and it’s clear that the Thunder believes he can be an integral piece to the team moving forward. While Russell Westbrook earns the lion’s share of minutes as the team’s primary ball handler, it’s clear that Payne can run the point and also space the floor as a three-point shooter and secondary playmaker.
“Cameron showed the ability to play off the ball, and not just one end of the floor,” General Manager and Executive Vice President Sam Presti said.
Payne’s per-36 minute stats look excellent: 14.6 points, 5.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. He shot 41.0 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three-point range, but in December and January, his first months in the rotation, Payne shot 46.0 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from behind the arc.
The steady improvement the lanky, crafty guard has displayed over the years continued this July at Summer League in Orlando, when he led all scorers with 18.8 points per game while also racking up 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. That momentum is propelling Payne forward, with an aim to elevate himself both physically and mentally heading into the 2016-17 season.
“Getting better defensively and getting bigger is the main two focus points,” Payne said. “I want to improve more not on the court, but improve through film, learn more things through in the NBA by experience and just be a better player than last year.”
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