NBA
Gary Payton Was the Greatest Guard Defender Ever
Gary Payton was one of the greatest two-way players in SuperSonics history, as he leads the franchise in career assists and steals
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Gary Payton was selected second overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics out of Oregon State. As a rookie, Payton started in all 82 games, while averaging 2.0 steals per game, which was 12th in the league, and earned him a spot on the All-Rookie team. By his fourth season, Payton earned a spot on his first out of nine All-Star teams in a ten-year span. During his first eight years with the Sonics, they made it to the playoffs every year, and made it to the NBA Finals in 1996.
During his 13th year with the team, he was traded mid-season to Milwaukee for Ray Allen along with other players. Over his final four years in the league, he played for three different teams: Lakers, Celtics, and Heat. He was on the 2006 NBA Champions, Miami Heat before retiring after the following season now that he added that coveted championship to his HOF resume.
GARY PAYTON IS THE GREATEST DEFENSIVE POINT GUARD IN NBA HISTORY
Not only is Gary Payton one of the best passers of his era, which he showed off by leading the league in assists in the 1999-00 season, but he is also an all-time great defender. During his career, he was on nine All-Defensive teams, and during the 1995-96 season, Payton led the NBA with 2.9 SPG, which led to him being the only point guard to win DPOY. Gary Payton is currently 4th in career steals (2445) and 10th in career assists (8966) in NBA history while he cemented his legacy as the best defensive PG ever.
Gary Payton's HOF resume:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 23, 2021
- 9x All Star
- 9x All-Defense
- 2x All-NBA 1st Team; 5x 2nd Team; 2x 3rd Team
- 2006 NBA Champ
- 1996 DPOY & NBA STL Leader
- Longest streak of All-Defensive 1st Teams (9) in NBA history
- Only PG to win a DPOYpic.twitter.com/bTzUpEvYiz
Gary Payton's ranks in Sonics/Thunder history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 23, 2021
- 1st in career AST (7,384), STL (2,107), FGM (7,292), GP (999), & MIN (36,858)
- 2nd & 5th in season STL (231/204)
- 2nd in career PTS (18,207)
- 3rd in career APG (7.4)
- 4th in career 3PM (917) & SPG (2.1)
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Most career STL in Sonics/Thunder history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 23, 2021
1. Gary Payton (2,107)
2. Nate McMillan (1,544)
3. Russell Westbrook (1,442)
4. Fred Brown (1,149)
5. Gus Williams (1,086)
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Most career AST in Sonics/Thunder history:
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) July 23, 2021
1. Gary Payton (7,384)
2. Russell Westbrook (6,897)
3. Nate McMillan (4,893)
4. Fred Brown (3,160)
5. Gus Williams (2,865)
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