the glove has you

Most NBA fans today can utter the names of Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo every time they talk about elite point guards. They are not wrong in thinking that way, as the players mentioned above are, in fact, some of the best point guards playing in the NBA, but they may not be familiar with a certain point guard who was known for his defense. The guy I’m referring to is none other than “The Glove,” Gary Payton.

Here was a guy who was one of the most complete point guards the league had ever seen. He could score, he could set up plays for his teammates, he could rebound and, most important of all, he could defend. Payton was one of the fiercest defenders in the game, hence his nickname “Glove”. In fact, his defense was so exceptional that he became the only point guard in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year.

His defensive prowess was also on display during the 1996 NBA Finals when he was assigned to guard Michael Jordan. Although the Bulls would eventually go on to win the series in six games, Payton’s defense helped keep Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to one of their lowest offensive outputs in history. Other analysts also claimed that Payton’s defense on MJ was so good that it actually frustrated the best player in the game.

In addition to his stingy defense, Payton was also one of the most prolific scoring point guards in his prime. His six-foot-four height allowed him to position himself against smaller defenders in the post and easily score on them. He also had the speed to match his size, as he was a very capable slasher who could penetrate defenses.

Another weapon Payton had in his arsenal was his mouth. He is known to be one of the greatest charlatans in history. His trash talk combined with his strict defense helped frustrate his opponents to no end and this would become one of his trademarks during his career. Payton was also able to win his first and only championship in 2006 as a member of the Miami Heat, something Payton considers a feather in his already highly decorated achievement cap.

Gary Payton will always be remembered for redefining the point guard position and for being one of the greatest players to ever play basketball.