VINCENT LAFORET/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
High defensive accolades: One Defensive Participant of the 12 months award, 9 All-Defensive 1st Workforce alternatives, one time NBA steals chief, eight years receiving Defensive Participant of the 12 months votes
NBA rank: fifth in steals, 179th in defensive rebounds
Considered one of simply two gamers listed at level guard to ever win Defensive Participant of the 12 months, Corridor of Famer Gary Payton took dwelling the award in 1995-96, a season that noticed him lead the league in steals with 2.9. Payton completed second within the Defensive Participant of the 12 months vote two different instances in his profession.
No doubt, Payton is the GOAT in terms of point-guard defenders, as he had elite lateral quickness, incredible arms and performed with a complete lot of tenacity and swagger on that finish of the ground, making protection look cool. He additionally had a knack for getting in opponents’ heads together with his trash-talking prowess.
His defensive aptitude led the Seattle SuperSonics all the way in which to the Finals in ‘96, a championship sequence that perhaps might have gone otherwise had Payton been tasked with defending Jordan earlier within the matchup (via Sports Illustrated):
Payton didn’t guard Jordan till Sport 4 – MJ averaged 31 factors on 46.2 p.c from the sector within the first three video games. He’s typically mentioned that his protection in Video games 4 and 5 drained and took a toll on Jordan and that he wished he had guarded him earlier than the SuperSonics went down 3-0 within the sequence “I used to be simply coming off profitable the NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months, first level guard to ever do it. Then swiftly, Jordan had obtained MVP. So Sports activities Illustrated put me on the duvet of it – Mission Unattainable, can I do it? And swiftly, they have been placing the most effective defensive participant within the NBA versus the most effective offensive participant. I couldn’t guard him till Sport 4. And I mentioned overlook this harm, we’re down 3-0, let’s strive,” Payton said.
With Payton as his main defender, Jordan’s numbers fell to 23.7 factors on 36.7 p.c capturing from the sector over Video games 4, 5 and 6 mixed, two of which have been victories for Seattle.
Regardless, Payton was a nine-time All-Defensive participant, incomes 1st Workforce honors all 9 instances, tied for essentially the most ever. All in all, there’s no query he’s the most effective undersized defender the league has ever seen.
