Cameron Payne signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the New York Knicks in July. However, just a month before this agreement, Payne made headlines for a troubling incident involving law enforcement.
In June, the NBA guard was arrested after refusing to provide his real name to police. The situation arose when he called 911 following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, and it prompted a response from the Scottsdale Police Department.
When officers arrived at his home, they attempted to verify his identity. Surprisingly, Payne did not identify himself as an NBA player; instead, he claimed to be “Terry Johnson.”
“I’m OK. I don’t have to tell you my name. I’m OK,” Payne said.
On Thursday, the Scottsdale Police Department released body-camera footage capturing the exchange between Payne and the officers. The video shows the two officers trying to ascertain his real name as Payne became increasingly agitated, arguing that they had no right to be in his home.
Despite their efforts to gather information, including his birthdate, Payne steadfastly refused to cooperate. As the tension escalated, one of the officers called Payne “dumb” in frustration, ultimately deciding to arrest him.
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“All right, you’re under arrest for giving a fake name. That was dumb,” the officer said.
Cameron Payne Reflects On His Tumultuous Basketball Journey
Cameron Payne has had a rollercoaster journey in professional basketball, bouncing between NBA and G-League teams since he entered the league with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Recently, in an interview with SNY, the Knicks star shared his thoughts on his experiences and his commitment to his career.
“The most significant experience was being waived and then heading overseas. I don’t want to go back overseas. That’s my identity now. I’m committed to playing my heart out and doing whatever it takes to help my team win,” Payne said.
Last season, Payne played with the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. In those stints, he played 47 games for the Bucks before heading to the 76ers, where he played 31 games.
