Gary Payton (basketball)

Gary Dwayne Payton (born July 23, 1968 in Oakland, California) is a professional basketball player currently with the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association.

Related Topics:
July 23 - 1968 - Oakland - California - Basketball - Miami Heat - National Basketball Association

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Payton has played point guard for his entire career. He is nicknamed "The Glove" in recognition of his tenacious defense. As the story goes, Payton's cousin called him during the 1993 Western Conference Finals series against Phoenix and told him, "you're holding Kevin Johnson like a baseball in a glove," and the nickname was born.

Related Topics:
Point guard - Western Conference - Phoenix - Kevin Johnson

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Payton played high school basketball at Skyline High School in Oakland, California before attending Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Throughout his four-year career at OSU, he became one of the most decorated basketball players in OSU history. During his senior year, Payton was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine as the nation's best player in 1990. He was a consensus All-American in 1990; three-time All-Pac-10 selection, and named the Pac-10 conference's 1987 Freshman of the Year. He was the MVP of the Far West Classic tournament three times and was the Pac-10 Player of the Week nine times. He also was named to the Pac-10's All-Decade Team. At the time of his graduation, he held the school record for points, field goals, three-point field goals, assists, and steals. During his career at OSU, the Beavers made three NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. He was elected into OSU's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Related Topics:
Oakland, California - Oregon State University - Corvallis, Oregon - Sports Illustrated - 1990 - All-American - Pac-10 - 1987 - Field goal - Assist - Steal - NCAA Tournament - NIT - 1996

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Payton was the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. Payton spent his first 12½ seasons with the Sonics, during which time he proved himself to be one the league's top point guards. He was selected All-NBA First-Team in 1998 and 2000, All-NBA Second Team in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2002, and All-NBA Third Team in 1994 and 2001. He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine consecutive seasons (1994-2002), and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1996. He has been selected to the NBA All-Star Team nine times and was voted as a starter in 1997 and 1998. He was a member of the gold medal-winning 1996 and 2000 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Teams. In 1996, Payton and the SuperSonics, under coach George Karl, reached the NBA Finals and lost in six games to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls). In the middle of the 2002-2003 season, Payton was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a five-player deal that sent Ray Allen to Seattle. Payton played the remaining 28 games with the Bucks.

Related Topics:
1990 NBA Draft - Seattle SuperSonics - NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award - 1996 - 2000 - George Karl - NBA Finals - Michael Jordan - Chicago Bulls - Milwaukee Bucks - Ray Allen

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As an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2003-2004 season, Payton, along with Karl Malone, signed with the Los Angeles Lakers to make a run at the NBA Championship with Shaquille O'Neal. Despite injuries to Malone, O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant during the regular season, the Lakers won 56 games and the Pacific Division. The Lakers then beat Houston, San Antonio, and Minnesota on the way to the Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games (4-1).

Related Topics:
Karl Malone - Los Angeles Lakers - Shaquille O'Neal - Kobe Bryant - Houston - San Antonio - Minnesota - Detroit Pistons

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Before the 2004-05 season, the Lakers traded Payton and Rick Fox to the Boston Celtics for center Chris Mihm, small forward Jumaine Jones and point guard Chucky Atkins. While Payton expressed displeasure with the trade, he ultimately did report to Boston and began the 2004-2005 season as the Celtics' starting point guard. On February 24 2005 Payton was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that brought former Celtic Antoine Walker back to Boston. The Hawks then waived Payton immediately following the trade, and he returned a week later to Boston as a free agent. Payton started all 77 games he played for the Celtics and they won the Atlantic Division before losing in the first round to the Indiana Pacers.

Related Topics:
Rick Fox - Boston Celtics - Chris Mihm - Jumaine Jones - Chucky Atkins - February 24 - 2005 - Atlanta Hawks - Antoine Walker - Free agent - Atlantic Division - Indiana Pacers

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On September 22, 2005, he signed a one-year USD $1.1 million contract with Miami, reuniting with Walker (acquired seven weeks earlier by the Heat), as well as former Lakers teammate, Shaquille O'Neal.

Related Topics:
September 22 - USD - Shaquille O'Neal

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Payton was ranked #47 on SLAM Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of All Time in 2003.

Related Topics:
SLAM Magazine - 2003

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