Former Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne has officially signed with Turkish basketball club Anadolu Efes SK, the team announced on October 3, 2026. The move marks Payne's departure from the NBA after a four-season stint in Phoenix that included a run to the 2021 NBA Finals. The Suns' current backcourt is focused on the present.
Payne spent four seasons with the Phoenix Suns from 2019 to 2023. The 6-foot-2 point guard became a vital spark off the bench, averaging a career-high 9.8 points per game during his time in the desert. He was part of three consecutive playoff teams, including the 2021-22 squad that set a franchise record with 64 wins. His most memorable performance came in the 2021 Western Conference Finals. With Chris Paul sidelined in the NBA's health and safety protocols, Payne erupted for 29 points and nine assists in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. That effort helped secure a narrow 104-103 victory and a 2-0 series lead, capped by Deandre Ayton's iconic "Valley-Oop" game-winner.
Payne also showed his scoring ability in his final game with the Suns. He dropped a playoff career-high 31 points in a 125-100 road loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the 2023 conference semifinals. Those Nuggets went on to win the NBA championship that season. Off the court, Payne's time in Phoenix was also marked by an arrest in June 2024 for providing a false name to police during a domestic disturbance call at his Scottsdale home.
Payne's signing abroad closes a chapter on a popular role player from a successful era in Suns history. It comes as the current Phoenix roster looks to regroup after a difficult end to their 2025-26 campaign. The team's final stretch was particularly rough.
This context shows the ongoing evolution of the Suns' guard rotation. Payne's departure from the NBA league highlights the turnover since the team's Finals appearance. The senior squad's performance and health can be tracked on our official injuries and stats pages as they prepare for the next season.
Payne joins a historic EuroLeague program in Anadolu Efes, a team accustomed to competing for continental titles. His experience in high-pressure NBA playoff games will be a significant asset for the Turkish club. For Payne, this represents a new challenge and a major career shift after his most recent NBA stop with the New York Knicks. His ability to create offense and provide energy off the bench should translate well to the European style of play. The Suns, meanwhile, will continue building without him, aiming to recapture the playoff success he helped them achieve just a few years ago.
