Feb 14, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA former player
Gary Payton
during the NBA Hall of Fame Annoucement at New Orleans Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Gary Payton
In the decade following the team’s championship season, Seattle found themselves struggling to find a clear identity and much success. With the second overall pick in the 1990 draft, the SuperSonics would change the course of the franchise with one of the top point guards in NBA history.
Gary Payton (of nearby Oregon State) was an electrifying player that impacted the game on both ends. Known mostly for his defense – earning him one of the best all-time nicknames in “The Glove” – Payton was long-limbed and deadly, keeping opposing guards from dribbling through traffic or intercepting passes with ease. But he was also a solid scorer and passer, using his athleticism and court vision to ignite the offense.
In 13 seasons with Seattle, Payton averaged 18.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He was named to nine All-Star teams and was recently elected into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame. But while those numbers certainly build a solid résumé, they don’t do Payton’s impact justice.
He’s well-known for being a scathing trash-talker, destroying an opponent’s confidence and using that weakness to impose his will on a game. And with vicious dunker Shawn Kemp running alongside him on the fast break, the Sonics were one of the most electrifying teams of the ’90s.
For now, Payton is still atop this list but if Wesbrook has a few more seasons like last, there could be a new floor general as the top point guard in franchise history.