2023-24 Player Review: Elfrid Payton

Height: 6-3
Position: Guard
Age: 30
Years Pro: 10
College: Louisiana Lafayette
Acquired: Player rights acquired by the Mad Ants on February 8, 2023.

Overview: During the 2023-24 full season (showcase + regular season), Payton averaged 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists. His 9.7 assists per the game in the regular season led the NBA G League.

Payton made major impressions on the franchise's record book for assists. His 264 this season are the 8th most in a Mad Ants single season, while his 318 in his Mad Ant career over two seasons is ninth all-time. Payton ranks 2nd in Mad Ants history for the most games of 14 or more assists in single season and in a Mad Ants career.

His 17 assists on both December 15 and February 13 are tied as the sixth most assists in a game for any Mad Ants player over the 17 year history of the organization. Payton's 13 assists in April 2's playoff loss to Delaware are the most assists for a Mad Ants player in a postseason game.

Payton became the Mad Ants' all-time leader in triple doubles on March 18 in a comeback win over Delaware; it was the fourth triple double of the season for Payton and also his fourth in his time with the Mad Ants, surpassing Naz Mitrou-Long's previous best of three. In the March 18 win, Payton scored the most points in any Mad Ants triple double with 25 and had the most rebounds in any Mad Ants triple double with 15. Previously, in a December 15 triple double against Motor City, Payton had the most assists in any Mad Ants triple double with 17. His other two triple double performances came on January 23 and January 24 as he became the second player in G League history to secure triple doubles on back-to-back calendar days.

During the season, Payton joined Mad Ants teammate Jordan Bell with Team USA as part of AmeriCup Qualifying games against Cuba.

Notable Performances:

December 15, 2023: Payton secured his first G League triple double with 14 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds in a win over Motor City.
March 18, 2024: Shooting 12 of 14 from the field (85.7 percent), Payton scored a season high 25 points in a triple double effort over Delaware.