Gary Payton II induction ceremony as Honorary Warrior For Life, plus open thread

Not a head-scratcher

The master list of Honorary Warriors For Life lists everyone already polled.

Gary Payton II

The final votes are in for Gary Payton II as Honorary Warriors For Life, and the results are:

• Twitter: 84.7% yes

• DNHQ poll: 91% yes

• Comment votes (each counts as 10 votes): 77% yes

The weighted vote comes in as 80.8% Yes / 19.2% No , which is easily above my arbitrary threshold of 75% for Honorary Warrior For Life status.

Comments expressed much love but a few qualms about his short tenure with the team.

Congratulations, Gary Payton II! His nomination packet along with lots of nice testimonials and back and forth on his value can be found in the original thread

On the HWFL Hall and Its Standards

There were a few skewed eyes at the weirder inclusions in the HWFL hall.

I used to view those as defects that needed to be cleaned up, but I’m starting to regard them as part of the charm of the whole affair. Yes, it’s emotional and over-reactive. But it’s kind of nice to recall that we were all in sad shock to have Omari and GR3 traded mid-season, watching them be so sad to be leaving literally the worst team record in the league.

I don’t have any problem with people re-negotiating what the new standards should be. Even the Baseball Hall of Fame, the snobbiest of the snobby and self-righteous-est of the self-righteous, even that holy ground is full of mediocre players and terrible human beings and changing standards.

Dub Nation Speaks

• Captain Jack (10 ♡):

  yes, he stole our hearts like the lockdown defender that he is

• Mycroft (9 ♡):

  I'm not generally as big on longevity for its own sake. My categories for inclusion generally are one or more of: 1) Foundational; or 2) Did he contribute in a significant way to a championship or to a historical achievement - all based on my own non-scientific "how do I feel about it" meter; 3) Does his story and/or personality resonate with the Warriors ethos; or 4) Did he sacrifice and entertain through bad years (for instance, I tend to feel kind of wistfully HWFL'y toward Eric Paschall under this criteria - not enough to put him in, but still). By my evaluation standards, Payton is as much a HWFL as Kevin Durant. Obviously he has the story and personality, but also I think Payton was the extra sauce the warriors needed to get by an extremely good Celtics team. So Yes.

• Chasing Rings... (9 ♡):

  Very interested in the results of this. Not as clear cut as I initially thought it would be, both internally and externally. DubNation Divided?!

  GPII was such an unexpected highlight/feelgood/redemption story of last season - Be still my beating heart!!

  Going with my, does he get passed the HWFL Club bouncer test: This time the bouncer is not so sure. He wasn't expecting GPII to be trying to get in the club quite so soon, and in a Trailblazers uniform at that. He calls inside and says "Hey Fellas, it's GPII at the door, is he allowed in?" The club hushes and quietens down. All eyes look toward the three shadowy figures sitting at the back of the club. Finally, the shorter one stands up. He surveys the other members and thinks about the qualities they each embodied and personified playing in a Dubs jersey that have allowed them into this exclusive and hallowed room. He thinks about his ex teammate and the 'Underrated' journey he's been on... The one you all know, followed, and loved. And he says to crowd, "If there is anyone here among you who would not vote GPII in, speak now or forever hold your peace". The room stays silent. "That's what I thought. Let the little big man in."

  The bouncer let's him in as GPII gets greeted to thunderous cheers inside. He closes the door, steps in front, and wonders who the next person trying to get in will be...

• fzwinter (9 ♡):

  Definite YES. GP2’s story is heartwarming. Grew up in the big shadow of his father and struggled with dyslexia. Kept suffering setbacks throughout his career and even sought out a job as a video guy when he got cut by the Dubs at the end of camp. Fast forward a few months and he’s a major contributor on an NBA champion after overcoming a cheap shot broken elbow to play very meaningful minutes in the NBA Finals. I’m glad he’s able to get paid (he’s earned every penny) even if he’s no longer with the club. Add in the fact that he’s an unselfish contributor in the local community if you want the cherry on top. He’s the epitome of an Honorary Warrior for Life!

• Duby Dub Dubs (9 ♡):

  Brain says no, but heart says yes.... so I'm going with "yes"

• jeckyllhouse (9 ♡):

  I MISS HIM SO MUCH :sobbing-face:

• Goldarn Staid Worrier (8 ♡):

  GP2: Great story, relentless energy, high impact, shortest center in the NBA, dunking, steals, playoff contributor. How could it be other than yes?

  When GP2 was on the court I had to watch him. If for some reason a player other than him was doing something flashy, then I’d rewind a minute to focus on Gary. He was always, always doing something that impacted the play. That alone should be a huge lesson to other players trying to break in.

  Get in better shape than everyone else. Never stop. Press full court on D. Hang around the basket. Find your skills and hone them as sharp as possible. Practice. Work. GP2 is a case study in refusing to fail.

• The Bratch (3 ♡):

  I'm so torn. I love GP2, love the way he kept grinding until he found his place in the league, and super-love his defense and the fact that he could play the dunker spot. Then again, as others have pointed out, he was only here for a year and change. Then again again, as thesarunas pointed out, if Spellman and Clark are in, it makes absolutely zero sense for GP2 to miss the cut.

  Ultimately, however, three wrongs don't make a right. If GP2 had stayed, I'd be a yes. But his "one year and a few games" here isn't quite enough. I vote no.

  Further, I'd suggest a re-vote on fellows like Spellman and Clark. Time and perspective have not been kind to those takes.