Andreian Payne is the player that Xavi Pascual choose for reinforce Panathinaikos front line for the decisive half of the season.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, on 19th February 1991, the 208 cm Center began to play basketball for a birthplace highschool (Jefferson Township) before go in NCAA to Michigan State from 2010 to 2014, where increase his stats season by season: as a freshman (1st season), Payne averaged 2,5 points and 2,4 rebounds per game, playing in 34 games and in his sophomore season he led the team in blocks (39) and finished seventh in the Big 10, averaging in 37 games (36 starts) 7,0 points and 4,2 rebounds per game. As a junior Payne led the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (84,8%) and blocked a total of 46 shots, having 10,5 points and 7,6 rebounds in 25,6 per game in 36 games (34 start). His last season as senior he scored 16,5 points per game, grabbing 7,3 rebounds in 28,5 minutes per game in 31 games (28 start), named a member of Second Team All Big-Ten Conference.
Payne closed his NCAA career with 138 games played (94 starts) averaging 8,9 points, 5,3 rebounds and 1,0 blocks in 20,0 minutes per game, having 52,6% from two points shots, 40,% from three points and 75,5% from free throws line.
On June 2014 he was selected with 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft from Atlanta Hawks and he started his professional career, spending his time between NBA and D-League. During 2014/2015 season, after 3 games played for the Hawks (1,7 points and 1,3 rebounds) and 17 in D-League with Fort Wayne Mad (13,5 points and 10,5 rebounds in 6 games) and Austin Spurs (12,6 points and 7,1 rebounds in 11 games), he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves where he remained until end of 2016/2017 season, playing 99 games (24 starts) averaging 4,1 points, 3,1 rebounds in 13,5 minutes per game.
Payne began 2017/2018 season at Orlando Magic with a two way contract, where played 5 games with 4,2 points, 1,8 rebounds in 8,6 minutes per game before been assigned to Lakeland Magic in G-League (18 games played with 13,3 points, 8,1 rebounds and 0,9 block in 25,4 minutes) before transfer in Europe, closing until now USA professional career with 107 games played in NBA, averaging 4,0 points (40,6% field goals, 25.4% three points shot and 68.0% from free throw line) 2,9 rebounds in 13,1 minutes per game, and with 38 games played in G-League averaging 14,2 points (51,0% 2 points shots, 24,7% from behind the arc and 79,2% from the line), 8,3 rebounds and 0,9 blocks in 27,1 minutes per game.
His main skills are explosivity, athleticism and ability to play in the paint, where he can take advantage for grab rebounds and block shots in defence, with good post movements and also three points shot range. Good percentage at free throws line.
Panathinaikos adventure will be first overall professional experience outside USA for Payne and probably he will be available for game at Khimki Moscow home of 23th February and meantime coach Pascual can take advantage about Euroleague break to insert him as better possible inside team authomatisms.
So, the long awaited movement for front line sector has been done and Panathinaikos is official ready for challenge all the opponents for the decisive part of european and national season.
