Gary Payton

This article is about the former basketball player. For his son and active basketball player, see Gary Payton II. For the astronaut, see Gary Payton (astronaut). For the actor, see Khary Payton.

Gary Payton
Payton with the Miami Heat in 2007
Personal information
Born (1968-07-23) July 23, 1968 (age 56)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolSkyline (Oakland, California)
CollegeOregon State (1986–1990)
NBA draft1990: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Playing career1990–2007
PositionPoint guard
Number2, 20
Career history
As player:
1990–2003Seattle SuperSonics
2003Milwaukee Bucks
2003–2004Los Angeles Lakers
2004–2005Boston Celtics
2005–2007Miami Heat
As coach:
2017-20213 Headed Monsters
2022–presentBivouac
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As head coach

Career NBA statistics
Points21,813 (16.3 ppg)
Rebounds5,269 (3.9 rpg)
Assists8,966 (6.7 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference
Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team competition
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Team competition
FIBA Americas Championship
Gold medal – first place 1999 San Juan Team competition
Silver medal – second place 1989 Mexico City Team competition
FIBA U19 World Championship
Silver medal – second place 1987 Bormio Team competition

Gary Dwayne Payton Sr.[1] (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 and led them to an NBA Finals appearance. 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.[2] In October 2021, Payton was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.[3]

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.[4][5] 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.[6] 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"[7] by Basketball Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich.

  1. ^ "Gary Payton Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Gary Payton's Hall of Fame induction video and speech
  3. ^ "NBA's 75 Anniversary Team Players". NBA.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "The H.O.F. Watch – Gary Payton". Dimemag.com. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  5. ^ "10 greatest point guards ever". ESPN. May 11, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  6. ^ "NBA announces all-defensive team". May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  7. ^ Barber, Phil (September 18, 2000). "Gold Glove | Sporting News, The | Find Articles at BNET". Findarticles.com. Retrieved September 21, 2010.