Thunderous Intentions
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Top 15 NBA Draft picks in OKC Thunder franchise history

By Tamberlyn Richardson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: Oklahoma City Thunder players, from left, Kendrick Perkins #5, Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Russell Westbrook #0 celebrate with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following their team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 6, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 6: Oklahoma City Thunder players, from left, Kendrick Perkins #5, Kevin Durant #35, Serge Ibaka #9 and Russell Westbrook #0 celebrate with the Western Conference Finals Champions trophy following their team's victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2012 NBA Playoffs on June 6, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA Draft - Top 15 picks All-Time
NBA Draft - Top 15 picks All-Time /

Gary: Payton – NBA’s All-Time best defensive guard

1990 NBA Draft: Round 1, Pick 2 by Seattle SuperSonics

Career Milestones:

  • Hall of Fame inductee
  • NBA Champion (2005-06 with Miami Heat)
  • Defensive Player of the Year:1995-96
  • Steals Leader: 1995-96
  • Nine seasons top 10 in steals
  • Fourth All-Time NBA steals
  • Assists Leader: 1999-2000
  • Eight seasons in top 10 assists
  • Eighth All-Time in NBA Assists
  • Nine-time All-Defensive first team
  • Eight-time All-NBA (First team – 1, Second team – 5, Third team 2)
  • Nine-time All-Sar
  • 1990-91 All-Rookie second team
  • Three-time Western Confernce Player of the Week
  • One time Western Conference Player of the Month

Franchise Top 10 Lists:

  • First points: 18,207
  • First steals: 2,107
  • Most games played 999
  • First assists: 7,384
  • Sixth rebounds: 4,240
  • Sixth in rebounds: 4,240

There is an argument for Gary Payton to be the number one draft selection of the cumulative picks of the Sonics and Thunder. But, since this is an OKC Thunder fansite we’re giving credence to Thunder personnel. No disrespect to Payton who remains one of the most fascinating and impressive players to ever grace the hardwood.

First of all, you’ll get an argument from yours truly Payton was the best defender ever. It’s highly unusual for guards to be considered equally when it comes to defense. To demonstrate how unusual, Gary Payton is the only point guard to ever win Defensive Play of the Year. In five out of six seasons the award was initially handed out it went to shooting guards. Michael Jordan was the last such winner in 1987-88. Payton was the last guard (and only point guard ) to ever win the award (1995-96).

The Glove:

Add to this Payton was probably the best defender of some of the best NBA talents like Jordan, Clyde Drexler, and Dominique Wilkins.

Nicknamed the Glove it was a moniker which could have been tied to his adeptness at dishing dimes or his steals since he excelled at both. If you missed his time in the NBA go pull up old game footage to catch his heroics and antics as he was also one (if not the best) trash talker in the NBA.

Like Sikma he was another player who was an iron man which seems to be a running similarity of the franchises’ best players.

Gary Payton was one of a kind and even in his post-retirement is fascinating to catch on TV in interviews. While I feel almost guilty for placing him third on this list, he undoubtedly deserves top three.

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