{
  "id": 11834116,
  "title": "Former Phoenix Suns guard signs with Turkish basketball team",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/former-phoenix-suns-guard-signs-with-turkish-basketball-team",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-04T03:33:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-phoenix-suns-guard-signs-033331935.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne has inked a deal with Turkish basketball team Anadolu Efes SK, the team announced on October 3 via X. Payne spent four seasons (2019-23) with the Suns. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches, he averaged a career-high 9.8 points per game during his time in Phoenix and was a key player on three playoff teams. The Suns reached the 2021 NBA Finals and won 64 games in the 2021-22 season, with Payne making crucial contributions as a bench spark. In Game 2 of the 2021 Western Conference Finals, he scored 29 points and dished out nine assists while Chris Paul was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocols. Payne's leadership was evident, leading the Suns to a 104-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, securing a 2-0 series lead. However, Payne's journey with the Suns ended in 2023, as he scored a playoff-career-high 31 points in his final game with the team, which the Suns lost to the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the conference semifinals. The Nuggets ultimately won the NBA championship. Payne's tenure with the Suns was also marked by controversy; he was arrested on June 14, 2024, for providing a false name to authorities. Despite this, he continued to play professionally, joining the New York Knicks in 2024-25 and appearing with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2023-24 season.",
  "summary": "Cameron Payne, who played four season with the Phoenix Suns, has signed with Anadolu Efes SK.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne joins Turkish team Anadolu Efes SK.",
    "Payne played four seasons (2019-23) with Suns, averaged 9.8 points per game.",
    "Payne's tenure with Suns ended in 2023 amid controversy over false name arrest."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Signing with Anadolu Efes SK marks a new chapter for Cameron Payne, who has played for several NBA teams, after his tenure with the Phoenix Suns ended in 2023.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}