Cameron Payne Bio
Cameron Payne (born August 8, 1994) is an American professional basketball player who plays for Partizan Mozzart Bet of the Serbian League, the ABA League, and the EuroLeague. A versatile guard standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and weighing 183 lb (83 kg), he is known for his scoring punch, playmaking, and ability to change the tempo of a game off the bench. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for nine professional organizations across the NBA, the NBA G League, the Chinese Basketball Association, and European basketball.
Payne first gained national recognition as a standout at Murray State, where he was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2015. He was then selected 14th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2015 NBA draft. After stops with several NBA franchises, he revitalized his career with the Phoenix Suns and helped the franchise reach the 2021 NBA Finals.
Early Life and Background
Cameron Payne was born on August 8, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee, where he grew up surrounded by a tight-knit family. His parents are Tony Payne and Leshawn Payne. His father, Tony Payne, once worked as a youth basketball coach, instilling in Cameron a love for the game at an early age. Both parents were instrumental in helping their son return to the NBA after a brief stretch playing overseas and in the NBA G League.
Payne attended Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he starred on the basketball team. He grew significantly during his high school years, going from 5 ft 5 in as a freshman to 6 ft 0 in by his senior season. Despite leading Lausanne Collegiate to a 2013 Division II-A state championship in Tennessee, he was not heavily recruited by college programs. He was considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and was not ranked among the top 100 prospects nationally.
Path to Basketball
Payne was recruited by William Small to play college basketball at Murray State, choosing the Racers over a few other scholarship offers. He quickly transformed from a relatively unknown recruit into a potential NBA lottery pick after a stellar freshman season. As a freshman, he averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game and was forced into the starting point guard role due to an injury to Zay Jackson.
His rapid development earned him first-team All-OVC honors and the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year award. After his sophomore season at Murray State, Payne opted to declare for the 2015 NBA Draft, where the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 14th overall pick. His path from overlooked high school recruit to first-round NBA draft pick in just two years remains one of the more striking ascents of his draft class.
Cameron Payne Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Payne made his NBA debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 1, 2015, in a 117–93 win over the Denver Nuggets, recording three assists in four minutes. He bounced between the Thunder and their NBA G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, during his rookie campaign, while also flashing scoring ability. In the Thunder’s regular-season finale on April 12, 2016, he set career highs of 17 points and seven assists in a 102–98 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Injuries complicated his second season in Oklahoma City. After undergoing a procedure to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot in July 2016, Payne suffered an acute fracture to the same bone during a preseason scrimmage and missed the first two months of the 2016–17 season. He returned to action on January 7, 2017, and scored a season-high 15 points in a 118–109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 9, 2017.
Chicago Bulls Era (2017–2019)
On February 23, 2017, Cameron Payne was traded, along with Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow, to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and a 2018 second-round draft pick. He split time between the Bulls and their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, as he worked to regain his form. He was then ruled out for three to four months after undergoing surgery on his right foot in September 2017.
Payne made his Bulls season debut on February 22, 2018, in a 116–115 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. On March 17, 2018, he recorded his first professional double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 assists in a 114–109 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He peaked with the Bulls on October 24, 2018, scoring all of his career-high 21 points in the second half of a 112–110 win over the Charlotte Hornets, going 7 for 11 from beyond the arc, before being waived by the team on January 3, 2019.
Phoenix Suns Era (2020–2023)
On June 30, 2020, Cameron Payne agreed to a two-season deal with the Phoenix Suns, a move that reignited his NBA career. He made his debut on July 31, 2020, in the NBA Bubble and finished the restart with the highest scoring and rebounding averages of his NBA tenure, helping the Suns go undefeated across eight bubble contests. His second season option was picked up on November 18, 2020, and he continued to produce as a key reserve.
On January 6, 2021, Payne tied his then career-high of 10 assists in only 16 minutes during a 123–115 win over the Toronto Raptors. On March 4, 2021, he recorded his second career double-double with 17 points and 10 assists in a 120–98 win over the Golden State Warriors. In the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, he exploded for a then career-high 29 points, nine assists, two steals, and two blocks in a 104–103 win on June 22, 2021, helping Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals, where the Suns fell in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks.
After the Finals run, Payne re-signed with Phoenix on a three-year, $19 million contract. He posted 17 points and a career-high 16 assists in a 115–114 win over the New York Knicks on March 4, 2022, and matched his 29-point career high in a 130–119 win over the defending champion Golden State Warriors on November 16, 2022. In the 2023 NBA Playoffs, he set a new career high with 31 points in a 125–100 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the semifinal round, leading the Suns in scoring.
Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks (2023–2025)
On July 17, 2023, the Suns traded Cameron Payne, a 2025 second-round pick, and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs; he was waived on September 11. On October 2, 2023, he signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, then was traded on February 8, 2024, alongside a 2027 second-round pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Patrick Beverley. He debuted for the 76ers the next night with 20 points and six assists in a 127–121 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
On July 15, 2024, Cameron Payne signed with the New York Knicks. In Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, he led a fourth-quarter rally, scoring 11 of his 14 points in the final period to help seal the win for New York. On October 9, 2025, he signed with the Indiana Pacers but was later waived after a preseason stint.
Partizan Era (2025–Present)
On December 23, 2025, Cameron Payne signed with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the Serbian League, the ABA League, and the EuroLeague, marking his first full move to European basketball. The signing gave Partizan an experienced NBA guard capable of running an offense at multiple levels of competition. On February 18, 2026, Payne returned to the NBA, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers for a second stint.
During his second stint with the 76ers, Payne posted a new career-high 32 points in a 139–129 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on March 10. Across 22 appearances, including one start, he averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. On April 10, Payne was waived by the 76ers after Dalen Terry was converted to a standard contract.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cameron Payne is best described as a scoring lead guard with deep range and a quick trigger from beyond the arc. He thrives in transition, uses hesitation dribbles to create separation, and has shown a willingness to attack closeouts. His pick-and-roll vision and willingness to facilitate have made him a steady second-unit floor general, and his confidence from three-point territory allows him to space the floor for bigger teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Cameron Payne’s signature moments is his 29-point performance in Game 5 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, which helped Phoenix advance to the NBA Finals. His 31-point playoff outing against the Denver Nuggets in 2023 set a new career high, while his 32-point game with the 76ers on March 10, 2026, raised the bar even further. His jersey number 1 was retired by the Murray State Racers in recognition of his college impact.
Cameron Payne Career Wins
Cameron Payne has compiled an extensive professional resume across multiple leagues and teams since 2015, though detailed league-by-league win totals are not fully verified. He has recorded meaningful individual milestones, including career-high scoring nights and a trip to the NBA Finals, with his teams in Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Phoenix.
NBA Highlights
Payne’s most notable NBA achievements include helping the Phoenix Suns reach the 2021 NBA Finals, where they fell in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks. He posted a then career-high 29 points in the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers and later broke his career high with 31 points in the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. With the Philadelphia 76ers, he set yet another career high with 32 points in a 139–129 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on March 10, 2026.
Other Wins and Performances
In the NBA G League, Cameron Payne was named NBA G League Player of the Week for the week of March 3, 2020, while playing for the Texas Legends, averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks across a perfect 3–0 week. In a brief stint with the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association, he averaged 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 4.5 steals across two contests.
Cameron Payne Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Cameron Payne was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, by his parents Tony Payne and Leshawn Payne. His father, Tony Payne, was once a youth basketball coach, giving Cameron early access to structured basketball training. Both parents played important roles in supporting their son during a transitional period when he was briefly out of the NBA and playing overseas and in the NBA G League.
Personal Life
Beyond his immediate family ties, limited verified details about Cameron Payne’s personal life are publicly documented through reliable sources. On June 14, 2024, Payne was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, for not telling officers his real name and for providing a false report to law enforcement, reportedly referring to himself as "Terry Johnson" according to police. He was taken to Scottsdale City Jail and was later released.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a transitional one for Cameron Payne. He spent the early portion of the year with the New York Knicks after signing on July 15, 2024, contributing as a reserve guard. In the playoffs, he delivered a key fourth-quarter performance against the Detroit Pistons in the first round, scoring 11 of his 14 points in the final period to help seal a New York victory.
Following his release from the Knicks, Payne signed with the Indiana Pacers on October 9, 2025, but was waived after a preseason stint. With no NBA roster spot secured for the regular season, he pivoted overseas, signing with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the Serbian League, ABA League, and EuroLeague on December 23, 2025.
At Partizan, Payne joined a contender across three competitions and was expected to provide experienced guard play and scoring punch. The European chapter quickly proved short, as he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on February 18, 2026, returning to the NBA. Across his 22 appearances for the 76ers, he averaged 7.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, highlighted by a 32-point career-best against the Memphis Grizzlies, before being waived on April 10. Looking ahead, Payne remains a free agent with a versatile skill set suited to both NBA and international rosters.
