Cam Payne, a seasoned NBA point guard, is back in Philadelphia, and he's got some intriguing insights to share. After a whirlwind of events, including a stint in the Serbian league, Payne is now a Sixer once again. Here's a recap of his journey and some of his insightful soundbites:
A Swift Return
Payne's return to the NBA was swift. He got the call from the Sixers just a few days ago, and he was on a plane the next day. "It happened pretty fast," he said. "I was literally at my game, watching, and my agent told me during the game. He said, 'Man, it's gonna happen pretty fast, so you might want to pack.' So after that game, I went and packed."
Familiarity Breeds Gratification
Payne's familiarity with the Sixers organization is a bonus. "It's really good that I came to a familiar team," he noted. "But I really went to Partizan just to play there. The NBA wasn't really the thought. Obviously, I wanted to get back, but all my focus was there."
The NBA's Persistent Eye
Payne's persistence has paid off. "It's really crazy," he shared. "I told my agent this one – I was like, 'I don't know how I keep finding a way to get back.' But I guess the NBA is still watching, and if you still take your game seriously and do the right things, play the right way, like, they’re still looking, so it's pretty cool."
Maxey's Massive Leap
Payne had high praise for Tyrese Maxey's growth. "That man took a crazy jump," he said. "I feel like he took a crazy jump from last year to this year. I feel like he accelerated his game even more coming into this season."
Getting Up to Speed
The Sixers have been working on getting Payne up to speed. "Just the plays. Just the players," he explained. "They added a few different sets, changed a few different things around. So just having a little package when I go in there tomorrow, just have some plays that the players are familiar with, that I could easily call."
A Tired Wait
Payne's journey to the Sixers wasn't without its challenges. After being cut by the Pacers, he was offered a deal by Partizan. "I was kind of tired of waiting," he said. "So that's what kind of made me go over there, because I was kind of tired of waiting."
European Basketball: A Different Experience
Payne's time in Europe was a unique experience. "It was lit, man," he said. "It was lit. Y'all know I'm all about energy, so going there, man, their fans are unbelievable, man. They come out for every game, and it's packed wall to wall."
Assisting Maxey
Payne is eager to help the Sixers manage Maxey's workload. "Honestly, man, just whatever they need me to do," he said. "If that's coming off 12 minutes, five minutes, I'm just [bringing] energy, man. I’m coming here to do my job, whatever it is, however many minutes I get, I'm going to play 110 percent."
Traveling to the Sixers
The travel since reaching an agreement with the Sixers has been grueling. "Yesterday was a pretty long day," he said. "My flight was super early in the morning, like 6:00 a.m., so I really didn't sleep. Had to be at the airport at, like, 3:30, 4:00. Then I had to fly from Serbia to Amsterdam. That was a two-hour, 2.5-hour flight, then from Amsterdam to Philly yesterday."
A Rising Star: VJ Edgecombe
Payne had high praise for Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe. "Oh, man, he's a dog, man," he said. "He plays well. He attacks the rim – he attacks the rim crazy. It kind of looks like he’s been in the league a little bit longer than him just being a rookie."
Learning from New Teammates
Payne is eager to learn from his new teammates. "Honestly, practice was good," he said. "Just learning where guys want the ball. Obviously, I know some of the starter guys, but some of the bench guys are kind of new."
Pre-Game Rituals
Payne's pre-game dancing with Russell Westbrook is more than just a ritual. "I'd probably just say, 'Keep being you. Don’t ever switch that up,'" he said. "That whole thing was about getting [Westbrook] ready for the game. People made it about dancing and everything, but it was just to get my guy ready."
Sixers Transactions
The Sixers have made some key moves, including bringing back Cam Payne, signing Jabari Walker to a new standard contract, and adding Tyrese Martin on a two-way contract.
