After being demoted from starting point guard to being rarely used in the playoffs, Elfrid Payton made the decision to leave the New York Knicks in free agency this summer. He ultimately chose the Phoenix Suns, agreeing to sign a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum of $2.2 million.

Returning to the Valley for the first time since 2017-18, Payton joins a familiar franchise with a drastically different makeup. In fact, Devin Booker is the only remaining Suns player from that roster. Payton will now try to carve out his niche on a new team that already has Booker, Chris Paul and Cameron Payne capable of logging minutes at the point guard position. He’ll also be trying to prove he can contribute to a winner after Phoenix reached the NBA Finals last year.

At 2021 Suns Media Day, Elfrid Payton spoke with PHNX about his free-agency decision to join the Suns, how Chris Paul played a role in his decision, what he expects to bring to the table and more.

Here’s the exclusive one-on-one interview: