Elfrid Payton shined brilliantly during his rookie season, validating the cost of trading for him in the 2014 NBA Draft and ultimately showing all the signs that he is the point guard of the future.
Elfrid Payton came as a somewhat obscure prospect to many Magic fans.
Hailing from UL-Layfayette, he was not the one of the guys we saw from a major program making appearances on ESPN. Rather, he was dominating mid-major programs all while amassing the third highest usage rate in the nation.
Payton’s dominance at the college level was pronounced. It was so definitive, he did not have use for a jump shot. He got to the basket at will, creating for himself and his teammates.
It is somewhat surprising to see that same type of dominance occurring on an NBA court. Payton gets to the spots he wants to on the court, and he seldom loses the ball in traffic.
That uncanny knack of keeping his dribble when in the midst of a triple team is something we only see from the likes of Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Steve Nash and the other few guys whose handles render them comfortable no matter what a defense throws at them.
Payton had the unenviable task of being thrown straight into the fire as a rookie point guard. No other position is as demanding, nor hard to adapt to. But the wild-haired rookie thrived, even making the first team All-Rookie.
It was hard to fathom how he was so disrespected in Rookie of the Year voting, particularly after his back-to-back triple doubles. But in time, the league will take notice of Payton.
Let’s take a closer look at what could be the first season of a legendary career.
Next: The Good and the Bad