With the most recent injury update, Warriors’ Gary Might not return back again because of the..

With Gary Payton II’s favorable injury update on Tuesday, the Golden State Warriors will soon get some much-needed reinforcements on the defensive end of the court. After a recent reevaluation by the Warriors’ medical staff, Payton—who hasn’t played since December 30 due to a Grade 2 left hamstring strain—was cleared to resume team practices.

He will be listed as day-to-day leading up to his eventual return to game action.

Payton has always been known for his defensive abilities in a Warriors uniform. His return will surely create a spark off the bench for Golden State, who currently find themselves ranked 20th in the league in defensive rating.

Before suffering his hamstring injury, Payton was averaging 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in about 16.3 minutes per game off the bench. The 31-year-old has only played in a total of 16 games due to his current hamstring injury and a calf injury he suffered during the NBA In-Season Tournament in November.

At this juncture in the season, the Warriors are in an extremely intriguing position. With one game separating them from the Western Conference play-in zone and a record of 22–25, Golden State needs to make some decisions before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Warriors are reportedly up for business in search of methods to enhance their chances of winning a championship in the near future, barring Stephen Curry. Payton is a player that has been linked to trades and is currently owed $8.7 million for this season.

While the Warriors have not given an exact date as to when Gary Payton II will return to action, his recent injury update provides a sense of optimism that he will be ready to take the court before the All-Star break at the end of next week.