Elfrid Payton Jr. born February 22, 1994 is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. He played college basketball at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he earned the Lefty Driesell Award in 2014 as the National College Defensive Player of the Year. Payton was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 10th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but was immediately traded to the Orlando Magic.
Elfrid Payton Biography 2025
In his junior season (2013–14), Payton further established himself as one of the nation’s top defensive players, improving his stats to 19.2 points, 5.9 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. He was once again named first-team All-Sun Belt and earned the title of conference Defensive Player of the Year. Payton’s stellar performance earned him the prestigious Lefty Driesell Award as the National Defensive Player of the Year. He declared for the NBA Draft in April 2014, foregoing his final year of eligibility.
Elfrid Payton Biography Details
| Born |
February 22, 1994 (age 30)
Gretna, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Listed height |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight |
195 lb (88 kg) |
| High school |
John Ehret
(Jefferson Parish, Louisiana) |
| College |
Louisiana (2011–2014) |
| NBA draft |
2014 1st round, 10th overall pick |
Elfrid Payton Early Life
Payton was an overlooked recruit from John Ehret High School in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, and chose to attend Louisiana–Lafayette. After a solid freshman season in 2011–12, Payton truly flourished as a sophomore in 2012–13, averaging 15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. His strong performance earned him a spot on the first-team All-Sun Belt Conference. Following his breakout sophomore year, Payton was added to Team USA’s roster for the 2013 FIBA Under-19 World Championship trials. After making the team, he started all nine games for the U19 squad, which included notable players like Marcus Smart, Aaron Gordon, Jahlil Okafor, and Jarnell Stokes. Team USA went undefeated and defeated Serbia in the final to win the gold medal.
Elfrid Payton Bio
| Category |
Details |
| Full Name |
Elfrid Payton Jr. |
| Date of Birth |
February 22, 1994 |
| Place of Birth |
Gretna, Louisiana, U.S. |
| NBA Team |
New Orleans Pelicans |
| Position |
Point Guard |
| Height |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight |
195 lb (88 kg) |
Early College Career
| Category |
Information |
| High School |
John Ehret High School, Jefferson Parish, LA |
| College |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette |
| Freshman Year |
Averaged 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3 assists |
| Sophomore Year |
15.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists per game |
Payton’s College Success
| Category |
Facts |
| Awards |
2014 Lefty Driesell Award, 2× First-team All-Sun Belt |
| U19 World Championship |
Gold Medal, 2013 with Team USA |
| Defensive Player |
Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year 2014 |
NBA Draft & Trade
| Category |
Point |
| NBA Draft |
10th overall pick, 2014 NBA Draft |
| Drafted By |
Philadelphia 76ers (Traded to Orlando Magic) |
Orlando Magic Career (2014-2018)
| Season |
Points per Game (PPG) |
Assists per Game (APG) |
Rebounds per Game (RPG) |
| 2014–2015 |
8.9 |
6.5 |
4.3 |
| 2015–2016 |
10.7 |
6.4 |
3.6 |
| 2016–2017 |
12.8 |
6.5 |
4.7 |
| 2017–2018 |
13.0 |
6.3 |
4.0 |
Triple-Doubles by Elfrid Payton
| Season |
Triple-Doubles |
Notable Games |
| 2014–2015 |
3 |
First career triple-double on March 18, 2015 |
| 2015–2016 |
3 |
Triple-doubles vs. Portland and Dallas (March 2015) |
| 2016–2017 |
4 |
Consecutive triple-doubles in March 2017 |
Phoenix Suns Career
| Season |
Points per Game (PPG) |
Assists per Game (APG) |
Rebounds per Game (RPG) |
| 2017–2018 |
11.8 |
6.2 |
5.3 |
| 2021–2022 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
New Orleans Pelicans Career
| Season |
Points per Game (PPG) |
Assists per Game (APG) |
Rebounds per Game (RPG) |
| 2018–2019 |
10.6 |
7.6 |
5.2 |
New York Knicks Career
| Season |
Points per Game (PPG) |
Assists per Game (APG) |
Rebounds per Game (RPG) |
| 2019–2020 |
10.0 |
7.2 |
4.7 |
| 2020–2021 |
10.1 |
3.2 |
3.4 |
Injury History
| Year |
Injury |
Time |
| 2016 |
Left ankle injury |
Missed four games in early January 2016 |
| 2017 |
Left hamstring injury |
Missed eight games early in the 2017–2018 season |
| 2018 |
Finger fracture (left hand) |
Missed six weeks after a finger injury in November |
Career Highlights
| Category |
Years |
| Awards |
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2015) |
| Notable Performances |
Multiple triple-doubles in both Orlando and New Orleans |
| Defensive Reputation |
Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year (2014) |
Recent Career Moves
| Year |
Team |
Dates |
| 2023 |
Osos de Manatí |
Signed with Puerto Rican team in March 2023 |
| 2025 |
New Orleans Pelicans |
Signed and re-signed with the Pelicans in October and November |
Elfrid Payton Net Worth
Elfrid Payton’s estimated net worth is around $6 million.
Elfrid Payton Summary
Elfrid Payton is an American professional basketball player known for his versatility and playmaking ability. He played college basketball at Louisiana-Lafayette, where he earned notable accolades, including the Lefty Driesell Award. Drafted 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, Payton has played for several NBA teams, including the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, and New York Knicks. Throughout his career, he earned a reputation for his defensive skills and multiple triple-doubles. Payton continues to contribute to the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2025 season.
