Gary Payton: Then I began enjoying, and I began feeling higher and higher. We had been down an excessive amount of within the collection, and I simply began saying: “Let me guard him.” And he [Jordan] was averaging 33 points at the time. Then I started becoming a pest for him. I brought it down to 23 points. And what do coaches do after they have an issue? They attempt to remedy it. Jordan was beginning to take it personally with me, which is what I wished to occur. Then Phil Jackson stated, “Nah, let me put any individual greater on him and distract him—make it an issue.” And he put Scottie Pippen on me. Pippen is a much bigger participant than me—he’s 6’7″, he’s cellular. And it began taking a toll on me— Making an attempt to attain and guard Jordan on the similar time—it took a toll. -via YouTube / Might 23, 2025
