Gary Payton is an NBA legend and he recently shared a car with MARCA for an interview during the most recent MARCA Sport Weekend, which took place in Malaga.
He reflected on his career and also discussed a number of other topics, starting off by speaking about his inclusion in the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, a list of the league’s top 75 players.
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“It feels great for them to recognise what I’ve done in my career and for me to be one of the top 75 players ever to play the game in 75 years,” Payton told MARCA.
“It’s really big and it’s really an honour when you think of how many people go through the NBA. It’s a lot! For me to be one of the top 75 is really big for me.
“I never went into the NBA thinking I’d be one of the top 75 to ever play the game, but it is a big achievement. Nobody ever thinks they’re going to be that.”
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Gary Payton on his rivalry with Michael Jordan
Over the years, Payton had many epic battles with Michael Jordan and he was asked if he feels that was the best rivalry in NBA history.
“No, I don’t think so, I think Magic Johnson and Larry Bird is the greatest rivalry ever in the NBA,” he countered.
“Me and Michael had battles. He played the East and I played the West.
“Whenever we got together, everybody would like to see that. They knew I was the top defensive player and he was the top offensive player. They wanted to see a challenge.
“It was great for me and great for him. He had a ball doing it and I had a ball doing it.”
During that time, Payton was known for his trash talking, but he could never make it work on one of Michael Jordan‘s teammates.
“I learned trash talking from my father, growing up on the streets of Oakland, California,” Payton stated.
“I used it to my advantage. There was only one guy whose skin you couldn’t get under and that was John Stockton.”
Gary Payton on his son’s role in the 2022 NBA Finals
His son, Gary Payton II, is on the Golden State Warriors roster and currently competing against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
“My son played 10 minutes and had a great 10 minutes of defence, deflections and a steal, but I just think he’s playing within his means,” his father said after four games of the series.
“If he hadn’t got hurt a month ago, he’d be really in the groove right now.
“I predict that my son is going to win a championship, I want him to feel it like I did.
“If he does then we’ll be the fifth father and son to both win a championship.”
Gary Payton II
Gary Payton on reviving the Seattle SuperSonics
Payton spent most of his career with the Seattle SuperSonics, but they have since moved city and changed name. He might try to bring them back, though.
“I think so, I think it’s going to happen,” he said about the rumours of bringing the Sonics back.
“With our great commissioner we got right now, Adam Silver, he’s trying to work with the owners.
“I think the owners know we deserve a basketball team and never should have lost it.
“So, I think we’re going to have a team soon. I’m going to keep striving for it and I think it’s going to come.”
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