Gary Payton has never exactly been known for doing things quietly. The NBA Hall of Famer built his reputation through relentless defense, nonstop confidence and enough personality to earn one of basketball’s most memorable nicknames, “The Glove.”
Now, he has taken that same energy into cannabis culture with the release of the Gary Payton RAW rolling papers, a collaboration with RAW founder Josh Kesselman. And honestly, this partnership makes more sense than some celebrity collaborations we’ve seen lately.
Payton already has a well-known cannabis strain carrying his name, while RAW has spent years turning rolling papers into collectible lifestyle products. Put the two together, add a few basketball details and you have a release that feels connected to Payton’s existing place in the culture instead of something created just to place his face on a package.
How the Gary Payton RAW Rolling Papers Came Together
The collaboration reportedly began after Payton and Kesselman met while appearing on a panel at MJBizCon several years ago.
That initial meeting eventually turned into conversations about developing a signature rolling paper. The idea may have been simple, but Kesselman apparently took his time with the execution. He is known for being particular about RAW’s designs and product details, and the project took a couple of years to get where he wanted it.
The finished papers launched in early 2026 and quickly began receiving attention online and in cannabis retail circles.
Basketball Details Make the Collaboration Stand Out
The papers are made from organic hemp and come in a King Size Slim format. At approximately 110 millimeters long, they are noticeably longer than standard papers while maintaining a slimmer profile.
That is where RAW and Payton had a little fun with the concept. The ultra-thin papers feature basketball and GP graphics printed directly across the sheets. The packaging also uses basketball textures, Payton’s GP logo and a black, red, orange and yellow color palette that makes the pack look more like a piece of sports memorabilia than something designed to disappear inside a drawer.
RAW describes the papers as slow-burning and designed to provide the natural paper experience associated with its organic hemp line. Each pack contains 32 sheets.
Gary Payton’s Cannabis Connection Isn’t New
The collaboration isn’t Payton’s first connection to cannabis.
A cannabis strain named after him has been circulating for years, giving his name a level of recognition within the space before the RAW partnership ever happened. Payton has also spoken publicly about seeing cannabis help his mother while she was dealing with cancer, an experience that shaped his personal view of its potential wellness uses. That background gives the rolling-paper release a little more context. This isn’t simply an NBA legend appearing in a cannabis campaign without any previous relationship to the industry.
RAW Keeps Finding New Ways to Make Rolling Papers Interesting
RAW founder Josh Kesselman has built a reputation for treating smoking accessories like opportunities for invention.
Along with the brand’s traditional papers and cones, RAW has released more unconventional products, including the Tuberator, a wooden device that can hold seven joints at once. Kesselman has also created unusual accessories such as joint-holding umbrellas and multi-joint smoking devices. The Gary Payton RAW rolling papers aren’t quite as wild as some of those inventions, but they fit the same philosophy. The papers are functional, visually distinctive and designed to become something fans might collect instead of immediately throwing away.
For Payton, it is another way to extend his personality beyond basketball. For RAW, it is a collaboration that connects sports, cannabis and nostalgia without feeling completely forced. Considering the papers have reportedly been moving quickly since their launch, it looks like fans were ready to add The Glove to their rolling trays.
