Tired of waiting, Cameron Payne was eventually tempted by Europe
Barely landed in Belgrade, like new player of Partizan, Cameron Paine spoke to journalists. He is followed by the Serbian club for several weeks, he was waiting for the NBA to call himbut nothing came of the end of his freelance work at the Pacers.
So, the 31-year-old leader eventually changed his mind and crossed the Atlantic, discovering Europe for the first time, in the continent’s heavyweight division.
« There were other teams that wanted me, but I had to wait » he admitted about the last weeks of waiting. “ I made a few attempts but other players were signed instead of me. I wanted to give myself a chance to get back to the NBA, but the more time went by, the more tired I got of being at home. I wanted to play and the opportunity arose. I could have waited longer for the NBA, but I decided to play now. »
If Cameron Payne doesn’t know much about his new club, he does at least know one thing: what he can collectively bring to a struggling team. And who just changed the coach, with the arrival of Joan Peñaroja in place of the legendary (and resigned) Željko Obradović.
« I’m already looking forward to being on the field with the boys. Of course we want to beat everyone and I will do my best to do that, playing the same way as usual: fast, with a lot of energy and above all having fun » explained the former Knicks player first. ” I don’t know the club well yet, but in three days I managed to learn a lot: we have a new coach and the one before him is the greatest in history. We’re not making much money right now and that’s all I know. Then the fans here are the best of all. »
Differences for assimilation in the game
Cameron Payne is a fast learner and says he’s ready to “ give 100% “, without wasting effort, to try to” win every match “, but he is also aware that his leadership alone will not be enough to assimilate new rules or a new form of defense.
« I played off the bench in the NBA, so I didn’t have to deal with all those defenses, double shots. But I feel there will be different defensive schemes for the ball carriers and I believe the adaptation will be quick » then he admitted. ” Some rules are different, I heard recently that I can’t call a timeout, but I’m a basketball player, a competitor, built for a high level, so I’ll understand everything and if I don’t understand something, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. »
And to add, more about the FIBA/NBA differences: ” First, the ball is different and the field is smaller, so I’m getting used to it, but I’m a pretty good shooter. I don’t want to say too much because I’m already going to play and then we can talk about it. But my game will remain the same: my priority is to get my teammates involved and, when the field opens up, I can attack. I just hope the best defenders in the United States are… »
| Cameron Paine | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | OKC | 57 | 12 | 41.0 | 32.4 | 79.2 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.0 |
| 2016-17 * | All teams | 31 | 15 | 33.2 | 31.4 | 62.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 5.2 |
| 2016-17 * | OKC | 20 | 16 | 33.1 | 30.8 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 5.3 |
| 2016-17 * | CHI | 11 | 13 | 33.3 | 32.4 | 25.0 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 4.9 |
| 2017-18 | CHI | 25 | 23 | 40.5 | 38.5 | 75.0 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 8.8 |
| 2018-19 * | All teams | 40 | 18 | 43.0 | 29.8 | 80.5 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 6.2 |
| 2018-19 * | CHI | 31 | 17 | 41.1 | 27.1 | 88.0 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 5.7 |
| 2018-19 * | CLE | 9 | 20 | 49.1 | 36.0 | 68.8 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 8.2 |
| 2019-20 | PHKS | 8 | 23 | 48.5 | 51.7 | 85.7 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 10.9 |
| 2020-21 | PHKS | 60 | 18 | 48.4 | 44.0 | 89.3 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 8.4 |
| 2021-22 | PHKS | 58 | 22 | 40.9 | 33.6 | 84.3 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 10.8 |
| 2022-23 | PHKS | 48 | 20 | 41.5 | 36.8 | 76.6 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 10.3 |
| 2023-24 * | All teams | 78 | 17 | 43.2 | 39.0 | 86.6 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 7.4 |
| 2023-24 * | MIL | 47 | 15 | 45.5 | 39.7 | 84.1 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.2 |
| 2023-24 * | PHL | 31 | 19 | 41.3 | 38.2 | 91.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 9.3 |
| 2024-25 | NOW | 72 | 15 | 40.1 | 36.3 | 90.7 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 6.9 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2025-12-26 13:28:00
