Panathinaikos BC Superfoods announces the acquisition of Adreian Payne!
Adreian DeAngleo Payne (born February 19, 1991) played college basketball for Michigan State University. He played high school basketball for Jefferson High School. He posted averages of 15.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 4.0 blocks as a senior.
As a freshman at Michigan State University, Payne averaged 2.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, playing in 34 games. In his sophomore season, he led the team in blocks (39) and finished seventh in the Big 10. In 37 games (36 starts), he averaged 7.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
As a junior, Payne led the Big Ten in free-throw percentage (.848) and blocked a total of 46 shots, good for sixth all-time for a Michigan State player. In 36 games (324 starts), he averaged 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game. Payne was named to the Second Team All Big Ten, along with Michigan State teammates Keith Appling and Gary Harris. Coming into his senior year, Payne was on the preseason Naismith and Wooden Award watchlists.
Coming into his senior year, Payne was on the preseason Naismith and Wooden Award watchlists. Payne was twice named Big Ten Player of the Week. Friendship with Lacey Holsworth.
On June 26, 2014, Payne was selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. On July 25, he signed his rookie scale contract with the Hawks after averaging 12.5 points and 7.0 rebounds during the 2014 NBA Summer League. On February 10, 2015, Payne was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a protected future first-round pick. On March 9, 2015, while starting in place of Kevin Garnett, he had a season-best game with 16 points and 15 rebounds in an 89–76 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. On October 21, 2015, the Timberwolves exercised their third-year team option on Payne's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2016–17 season. On August 21, 2017, Payne signed a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic.
