Cameron Payne Bio
Cameron Payne is an American professional basketball player who most recently signed with Partizan Belgrade of the Serbian League, the ABA League, and the EuroLeague in December 2025. He played college basketball at Murray State before being selected 14th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2015 NBA draft. Over the course of his professional career, Payne has suited up for nine different franchises across the NBA, the NBA G League, the Chinese Basketball Association, and now European basketball.
After beginning his NBA career in Oklahoma City, Payne became known as a reliable backup point guard, with his most prominent stretch coming as a key reserve for the Phoenix Suns. He helped that team reach the 2021 NBA Finals and later added stints with the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks before taking his game overseas.
Early Life and Background
Cameron Payne was born on August 8, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in a basketball-oriented household, with his father, Tony Payne, working as a youth basketball coach and his mother, Leshawn Payne, also deeply involved in the sport. Their guidance played an important role in shaping his early development as a player.
Payne attended Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, where he experienced a significant growth spurt during high school. Listed at 5 feet 5 inches as a freshman, he grew to 6 feet tall by his senior year. Despite leading Lausanne Collegiate to a Division II state title in Tennessee in 2013, Payne was not heavily recruited by major college programs. He was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and was not ranked among the top 100 prospects nationally.
He was eventually recruited by assistant coach William Small to play at Murray State, choosing the Racers over a small group of other offers. That decision set the stage for his rapid rise from a lightly regarded high school prospect to a potential NBA lottery pick in just two collegiate seasons.
Path to Professional Basketball
Payne’s path to professional basketball began in earnest at Murray State, where he was forced into a starting role as a freshman following an injury to Zay Jackson. He opened his collegiate career with 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists against Valparaiso, and he finished the year averaging 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. His strong play earned him first-team All-OVC honors and the conference’s Freshman of the Year award.
As a sophomore, Payne elevated his game further, averaging 20.2 points, 6.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game on his way to being named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year. He also received the Lute Olson Award, given to the nation’s top player in a mid-major program, and was again a first-team All-OVC selection. After two standout college seasons, Payne opted to declare for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Cameron Payne Career
Oklahoma City Thunder (2015–2017)
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Cameron Payne with the 14th overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He signed his rookie scale contract on July 10, 2015, and made his regular-season debut on November 1, recording three assists in four minutes of a win over the Denver Nuggets. He spent time developing with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s D-League affiliate, but showed flashes late in his rookie year, including a 16-point effort against the Milwaukee Bucks and a 17-point, seven-assist finale against the San Antonio Spurs.
His second season was disrupted by injury. After undergoing a procedure in July 2016 to repair a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot, Payne suffered a re-fracture during a September scrimmage and missed the first two months of the regular season. He returned in January 2017 and posted a season-high 15 points in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Chicago Bulls on February 23, 2017, as part of a package that included Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow.
Chicago Bulls (2017–2019)
Payne’s time in Chicago was marked by both promise and setbacks. He split his first partial season between the Bulls and their D-League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, before undergoing right foot surgery in September 2017. He returned in February 2018 and soon after recorded his first NBA double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 assists against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Later that March, he set a new career high with 17 points and six assists in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the 2018–19 season, Payne caught fire from beyond the arc, scoring a then-career-high 21 points, all in the second half, while going 7 for 11 from three-point range in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. Despite that scoring outburst, his tenure in Chicago came to an end when he was waived on January 3, 2019.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Overseas Stint (2019–2020)
After clearing waivers, Payne signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Cleveland Cavaliers in January 2019. Following the expiration of his second deal, he briefly joined the Toronto Raptors for training camp and preseason in 2019 but was released in October. Seeking a new opportunity, Payne signed with the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association in November 2019, where he produced impressively in two games, averaging 22.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 4.5 steals before being replaced in January 2020.
He returned stateside to join the Texas Legends of the NBA G League later that month. During the week of March 3, 2020, Payne was named the NBA G League Player of the Week after averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.3 blocks across three games.
Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)
On June 30, 2020, Payne agreed to a two-season deal with the Phoenix Suns, a move that revived his NBA career. He made his debut in the NBA Bubble on July 31, recording nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a win over the Washington Wizards. Playing off the bench for a Suns team that went undefeated in the bubble, he reached his highest scoring and rebounding season averages to that point in his career.
His second season in Phoenix produced some of the most memorable moments of his career. On January 6, 2021, he tied his then-career-high with 10 assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors. On June 22, 2021, he erupted for 29 points and nine assists in a 104–103 Western Conference Finals win over the Los Angeles Clippers, helping Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals, where the Suns fell to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. Payne later recorded 16 assists in a March 2022 win over the New York Knicks and matched his 29-point career high against the Golden State Warriors in November 2022. He also scored 31 points against the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 playoffs, setting a new career high.
Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks (2023–2025)
Payne was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in July 2023 and waived shortly after, before signing a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks on October 2, 2023. He was later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on February 8, 2024, and made an immediate impact, scoring 20 points with six assists in his 76ers debut the following night against the Atlanta Hawks.
On July 15, 2024, Payne signed with the New York Knicks, where he provided veteran point-guard depth. In Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, he scored 11 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter to help seal a Knicks victory. After a brief preseason stint with the Indiana Pacers in October 2025, Payne signed with Partizan Belgrade on December 23, 2025, taking his career overseas for a second time.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Cameron Payne’s most memorable career moments are his 29-point performance in the 2021 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, his 16-assist double-double against the New York Knicks in March 2022, and his 31-point career high against the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. His No. 1 jersey was also retired by the Murray State Racers in recognition of his impact on the program.
Cameron Payne Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Cameron Payne’s parents, Tony Payne and Leshawn Payne, have been central figures in his basketball journey. His father worked as a youth basketball coach, while his mother, Leshawn, played a key role in helping him return to the NBA after his brief stint playing overseas in China and time in the NBA G League. On June 14, 2024, Payne was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, for reportedly providing officers with a false name and a false report, though he was later released.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year brought significant change for Cameron Payne. He opened the year as a member of the New York Knicks, serving as a backup point guard during the regular season and contributing 14 points off the bench in the team’s first-round playoff win over the Detroit Pistons. Following the postseason, Payne signed with the Indiana Pacers in October 2025 but was waived after appearing in preseason play.
Rather than wait for another NBA opportunity, Payne signed with Partizan Belgrade on December 23, 2025, joining a historic European club competing in the Serbian League, the ABA League, and the EuroLeague. The move marked his second stint playing outside the United States, following his earlier experience with the Shanxi Loongs in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Looking ahead, Payne’s role with Partizan is expected to provide him with a chance to compete for trophies across multiple competitions, while also keeping the door open for a potential return to the NBA in the future. His track record of adapting to new teams and contributing in high-pressure moments suggests he will be a valuable addition to Partizan’s backcourt rotation.