Get to know Gary Payton one of the 75 greatest NBA Players of all-time. To name a few of Payton’s accomplishments: defensive player of the year, 9x All Defensive team selection, NBA Champion, Gold Medalist, and 9x All-Star just to name a few.
Payton grew up in the streets of Oakland, California under the firm leadership of his Father. Payton’s Father once show up to Gary’s school and slapped him in front of all his classmates. Payton said he would go from neighborhood to neighborhood looking for fights as young kid. By the grace of God Payton made it out of the streets by playing basketball where he was one of the best to do it from a young age. Initially committing to St. John’s Payton later withdrew his commitment and went to the west coast school of his mothers choice which was Oregon State where Payton thrived as one of the best collegiate players in the nation.
Gary Payton was then selected number 2 in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. Payton’s first couple years in the NBA was a struggle for him as well as his running mate Shawn Kemp. George Karl was then hired as the head coach, and things began to turn around. After amazing summer league Payton and Kemp began to rise to superstar status, eventually facing off against Michael Jordan in 1996 NBA Finals.
After spending most of his career with the Sonics Payton would later play for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and the Miami Heat where he won an NBA Championship, and retired. Gary’s son Gary Payton 2 recently won an NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors.
