Back then, mock drafts had Payne pegged from the late first round to the early second. He had promised his late grandmother Mary Lewis he would finish his degree in interdisciplinary studies. MSU basketball head coach Tom Izzo held the belief that in returning, Payne would expand his game and improve his draft stock.
The 6-foot-9 forward and Izzo ultimately concluded that in declaring early, Payne would leave a lot on the table.
Last Thursday, Payne’s decision to return for his senior season was validated by him becoming the No. 15 pick, drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, in the 2014 NBA draft, a higher spot than where he was predicted in many mocks.
Clad in a blue plaid suit, purple pants and a bowtie in honor of his late friend Lacey Holsworth, who passed away from cancer on April 9, Payne was all smiles as NBA commissioner Adam Silver shook his hand on the main stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Payne’s choice in style received a compliment by Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, who’s quote was tweeted by the official Atlanta Hawks twitter account on Thursday.
“Someone who wears purple pants to the draft is a badass, and I like having a badass on our team,” the tweet read.
In Atlanta, Payne finds an immediate support system. Former MSU basketball stars Steve Smith and Kevin Willis both had successful NBA careers with the Hawks — Smith represented the Hawks in the 1998 NBA All-Star game, and Willis spent the first 10 years of his 23-year NBA career in Atlanta, where he teamed up with Dominique Wilkins, Doc Rivers and Spud Webb.
Payne said in a teleconference Thursday night that Smith is a guy he is close to.
“We talk, he gives me advice about what to do and ... and I just try to continue to use that advice and take it the best I can,” Payne said.
Izzo called Atlanta the perfect organization for Payne, citing Smith’s presence and the resume of Mike Budenholzer, who was a video coordinator and assistant under San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich for 18 seasons before taking the Atlanta head coach position last summer.
“Steve has been a great mentor to all these guys and one of the great guys in pro basketball,” Izzo said. “He’s got his head on right and I think he’ll help Adreian a lot.”
Izzo said former MSU basketball player Draymond Green, who was with Payne and Gary Harris Thursday night in Brooklyn, said Payne made the right decision he was drafted.
“I think there’s no question, we don’t know where he would have (gone) last year because you never know what the draft brings,” Izzo said. “I think at best he’s a late first, he’s moved up to a top-15 pick in a year where he was really injured. I think that’s really awesome.”
