What happened: ESPN's Shams Charania reported the contract is for the veteran minimum. Payton will enter his 11th NBA season and seventh in the Bay Area.
Why it matters: The 33-year-old preserves Golden State's perimeter defense and roster continuity. His Warriors tenure has been interrupted only by a stint with Portland in 2022-23.
By the numbers: Payton averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.9 steals in 15.6 minutes across 73 games in 2025-26. He shot 58.3% from the field, 29.1% from three and 65.0% at the line.
What to watch: Golden State now has two roster spots left to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.