Gary Payton | NBA Team Up | PSA | 1997
2Gary Payton | NBA Team Up | PSA | 1997
Gary Dwayne Payton (born July 23, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player. He started at the point guard position. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, and holds Seattle franchise records in points, assists, and steals. He also played with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, the last with whom he won an NBA championship. He was nicknamed "The Glove" for his excellent defensive ability. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on September 8, 2013.[1]
Payton is widely considered one of the best point guards of all time and is the only point guard that has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.[2][3] He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times, an NBA record he shares with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant.[4] He was also a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member.
Considered the "NBA's reigning high scorer among point guards" in his prime,[5] Payton is referred to as "probably as complete a guard as there ever was"[6] by Basketball Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich.