Josh Hart couldn’t resist when news broke that Cameron Payne was heading to the Knicks, mocking Payne’s arrest last month for allegedly refusing to give his real name to Scottsdale police during an investigation.
“Shout Out Terry” Hart I wrote to X After the news broke.
The social media post referred to the name he allegedly gave officers after they arrived after he called 911: Terry Johnson.
Payne agreed to a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Knicks on Monday.
The incident itself occurred on June 14, according to police reports. Obtained by TMZ.
Scottsdale Police received a call at about 2:44 a.m. about an argument between Payne and his girlfriend, but when officers arrived on scene, the argument had subsided and the couple told them there was no need for further action.
Police insisted they only needed Payne’s name and date of birth to end their investigation and move in, but the NBA point guard refused to identify himself, eventually claiming to be “Terry Johnson.”
After much back and forth, Payne eventually gave his name but then retracted it, claiming it was a “pseudonym.”
“If you want to arrest me for giving a false name, congratulations,” Payne told officers, the report said.
Payne was arrested on charges of failing to give his true name and making a false report to police.
Payne appeared in 31 games with the 76ers in the 2023-24 season, averaging 19.4 minutes per game, 9.3 points and 3.1 assists.
The Knicks got to know Payne better during their first-round playoff series against Philadelphia, where he scored 11 points off the bench in Game 3.
Payne also shot 44.4 percent from three-point range during the series.
