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Gary Dwayne Payton Sr. is an American former professional basketball player widely considered to be one of the greatest point guards of all time. Nicknamed the Glove for his defensive abilities, Payton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member. 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gary Dwayne Payton Sr. |
| Born | July 23, 1968 |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California |
| High School | Skyline High School |
| College | Oregon State University |
| NBA Draft | 1990, 2nd overall pick |
| NBA Debut | November 3, 1990 |
| Teams | Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat |
| NBA Championship | 2006 |
| Nickname | "The Glove" |
| NBA Defensive Player of the Year | First point guard to win, in 1995-96 |
| NBA All-Defensive First Team | 9 times |
| NBA All-Star | 9 times |
| All-NBA Team | 9 times |
| Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted in 2013 |
| NBA 75th Anniversary Team | Named in October 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
Gary Payton's career achievements
Gary Payton is widely considered one of the greatest point guards in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played as a point guard for 17 years, from 1990 to 2007, and is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, with whom he holds franchise records in assists and steals and led them to an NBA Finals appearance.
During his senior season in 1989-90, Payton was featured in the cover story of Sports Illustrated as the nation's best college basketball player. He was a consensus All-American, a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, and both the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and conference Freshman of the Year in 1987. He was also the MVP of the Far West Classic tournament three times, the Pac-10 Player of the Week nine times, and was named to the Pac-10's All-Decade Team.
Payton was the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, and he spent his first 12.5 seasons with the team. In total, he played for five different teams during his career: the SuperSonics, the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat. He won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006.
Nicknamed "the Glove" for his defensive abilities, Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member. 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. He was also the first point guard to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, which he received in 1996. Payton was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
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Nicknames and defensive abilities
Gary Payton Sr., widely considered one of the greatest point guards of all time, earned the nickname "the Glove" for his defensive prowess. The moniker was popularized during the 1993 Western Conference Finals series against Phoenix. Payton is the first point guard to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, and the only point guard winner in the award's first 39 years until Marcus Smart was selected in 2022.
Payton was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times, an NBA record he shares with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant. He was also a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member. He was the only guard to have won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award since Michael Jordan in 1988 until Marcus Smart received the award in 2022.
During his senior season in 1989–90, Payton was featured in the cover story of Sports Illustrated as the nation's best college basketball player. He was a consensus All-American, a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, and both the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and conference Freshman of the Year in 1987. At the time of his graduation, Payton held the school record for points, field goals, assists, and steals – most of which he still holds today.
NBA coach George Karl once said of Payton, "I don't know who else you'd take at point guard. Some say Jason Kidd. Well, every time Gary went nose-to-nose with Kidd, Gary won that matchup." Kevin Johnson, when describing Payton's defensive prowess, said, "You think of guys with great hands, like Maurice Cheeks and Derek Harper. Gary is like that. But he's also a great individual defender and a great team defender. He has all three components covered. That's very rare."
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Awards and accolades
Gary Payton is widely considered one of the greatest point guards in the history of the NBA. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. Payton's career is distinguished by his defensive prowess, which earned him the nickname "the Glove". He was the first point guard to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, and he shares the NBA record for most career NBA All-Defensive First Team selections (9) with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant.
Payton was a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member. He was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, and the conference Freshman of the Year in 1987. He was also the MVP of the Far West Classic tournament three times and the Pac-10 Player of the Week nine times. In 1989–90, he was featured in the cover story of Sports Illustrated as the nation's best college basketball player, and he has been on the cover of the magazine a total of six times. In 2006, TNT selected Payton as one of the next 10 players to be added to the list of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
Payton was the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, with whom he spent his first 12½ seasons. He holds franchise records in assists and steals and led them to an NBA Finals appearance. He also played with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2006. In October 2021, Payton was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
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Teams played for
Gary Payton played for several teams throughout his career. He is best known for his long tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, who selected him as the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft. Payton spent 12 to 13 seasons with the SuperSonics, leading them to an NBA Finals appearance and setting franchise records in assists and steals.
After his time with the SuperSonics, Payton joined the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming the second player with that name to play for the team, following his son Gary Payton II. He then played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat, with whom he won an NBA championship in 2006.
Payton's career came to an end in 2007, but his legacy as one of the greatest point guards of all time endured. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and in 2021, he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Gary Payton II, his son, has also had a notable basketball career. He played for Oregon State, showcasing his talent in scoring, rebounds, and steals. After going undrafted in 2016, he joined the Houston Rockets for the NBA Summer League and then spent time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA Development League. Payton II later signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and other teams, winning an NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors.
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Family and early life
Gary Dwayne Payton Sr., born on July 23, 1968, in Oakland, California, is an American former professional basketball player. He is regarded as one of the greatest point guards in the history of the sport and is best known for his 13-year career with the Seattle SuperSonics. Payton attended Skyline High School in Oakland, where he excelled in basketball alongside former NBA player Greg Foster. In high school, his grades suffered, and he was declared academically ineligible. However, with his father's encouragement to focus on his studies, he was able to play again. Payton went on to attend Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Payton has been married to Monique Payton, the Executive Director Chair of the Gary Payton II Foundation. Together, they raised three children: Raquel, Gary II, and Julian. Monique was a stay-at-home mother who instilled a strong set of values and a deep appreciation for education in her children. She also played an important role in Gary II's basketball career, coaching and guiding him to develop his skills and love for the game.
Gary Payton II followed in his father's footsteps, playing basketball at Salt Lake CC and later signing a letter of intent to play for his father's alma mater, Oregon State. He made his NBA debut with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2017 and has since played for various teams, including the Washington Wizards and the South Bay Lakers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Gary Payton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Gary Payton played for 17 years in the NBA. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, where he holds franchise records in assists and steals. He also played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat.
Gary Payton won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. He was a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member. He was also selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times, an NBA record. He was the first point guard to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
Gary Payton was a versatile and ironclad player. He was a natural left-handed player who shot with his right hand. He was also a strong defensive player, earning the nickname "the Glove".
After his NBA career, Gary Payton worked as a studio analyst for NBA TV and as an occasional substitute analyst on The NBA on TNT. He was also named an analyst for Fox Sports 1's Fox Sports Live in 2013.
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