Gary Payton
Gary Dwayne Payton (born July 23, 1968) is an American former professional basketball player who was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely considered one of the greatest point guards of all time, 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 with the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat. Payton won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006. Nicknamed "the Glove" for his defensive abilities, Payton was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. In October 2021, Payton was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
Payton with the Miami Heat in 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | July 23, 1968 Oakland, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Skyline (Oakland, California) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Oregon State (1986–1990) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 1990: 1st round, 2nd overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1990–2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Point guard | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 2, 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–2003 | Seattle SuperSonics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Milwaukee Bucks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Los Angeles Lakers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Boston Celtics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Miami Heat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NBA statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Points | 21,813 (16.3 ppg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebounds | 5,269 (3.9 rpg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assists | 8,966 (6.7 apg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at NBA.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basketball Hall of Fame as player | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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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. 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 a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA Team member. Payton was called "probably as complete a guard as there ever was" by Basketball Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich.