Starting with a healthy Gary Payton II, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has prioritized defense this season.

Defensive ace key to ‘first order of business’ for the Golden State Warriors

After leaving the Warriors in free agency last summer, the 30-year-old returned in February via a deal with former number two selection James Wiseman. After a core injury limited him to 22 games in the regular season, Payton helped the Warriors in the playoffs but was never fully healthy.

Steve Kerr knows the Golden State Warriors need a healthy Gary Payton II to regain their defensive identity.Golden State defeated the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals due to Stephen Curry’s оffensive strength and second-ranked defense in 2021-22.

Without Payton and with chemistry concerns that never went away, the Warriors finished sixth in the Western Conference with a 14th-ranked defense last season.

On Tuesday, Kerr said, “The first order of business in camp is to re-establish our top 10 defense, and Gary is one of the best on-ball defenders in the world.” He’s healthy and on the roster right immediately, so I expect us to reestablish our defense easier.

With Draymond Green presumably sidelined for the Warriors’ opener, Payton may face even more pressure.

Golden State has placed first or second in defensive rating in three of its four championship seasons in the last nine. Kerr and his crew know their top priority entering this season.

The Warriors will play their first of five preseason games at Chase Center on Saturday against the Los Angeles Lakers before starting the regular season against the Phoenix Suns on October 24.