GARY PAYTON

Gary Dwayne Payton Sr. (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. Payton won an NBA championship with the Heat in 2006. He was nicknamed “The Glove” for his defensive abilities. 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. He is the only point guard to win 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.