#头条创作挑战赛#
You may not be familiar with this photo, which was Game 6 of the 2006 NBA Championship Game in which the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks 95-92 on the road to win the first championship in the team's history. In this photo, you can see a veteran in a red jersey who is hugging the championship trophy tightly, his eyes full of tears and joy. He was Gary Payton, who was 37 years old at the time, and it was his second time in the Finals and his first time winning a championship.
Gary Payton is an American former professional basketball player who played 17 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Seattle SuperSonics. Considered one of the greatest point guards and defenders of all time, he was a nine-time NBA All-Star, a nine-time All-Defensive Team, and an NBA Championship and Defensive Player of the Year. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and was named a member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Gary Payton has extraordinary basketball talent and leadership temperament, he always controls the pace and direction of the game on the court, and he uses his excellent organizational skills and defensive talent to create countless opportunities and space for his teammates. He also has a strong scoring ability and leadership temperament, he can score in all positions and can take over the game at key moments.
He is known as the "glove" because he is always able to wrap the opposing player tightly like a glove. He also has a chattering trash talk, and he uses his own words to strike at the psychology and confidence of his opponents, making them unable to focus on the game.
Gary Payton was born on July 23, 1968, to an African-American father and an Irish-American mother. He loved playing basketball from an early age, and his father was his first coach, teaching him how to control the ball and pass it. He played at Skyrim High School in Oakland, California, and along with future NBA player Greg Foster, led the team to two consecutive state championships and was named Mr. California basketball twice. He was also named America's Best High School Player and McDonald's All-American Star.
Gary Payton entered Oregon State University, where he played four seasons of college basketball. He showed amazing playmaking and defensive talent in college, becoming a member of the unanimous All-NBA Team in 1990 and leading Oregon State University to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. He also set an all-time record as the most scored guard in Oregon State University's history. In a game in November 1988, Payton played one of his brightest performances in the NCAA, posting 20 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to lead Oregon to a victory over the University of Portland. Upon graduation, Payton was named the best college player in the country by Sports Illustrated that year.
Gary Payton entered the 1990 NBA Draft and was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with the second overall pick. It's an ideal choice because the SuperSonics are in need of a point guard who can partner Sean Kemp, and Payton fits that bill.
Payton played his best time with the SuperSonics, where he played 13 seasons during which he was a nine-time All-Star and nine All-Defensive Team nominees.
Gary Payton's best performance with the SuperSonics came in the regular season in 1996, when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. He had 32 points, five rebounds, 16 assists and 10 steals against the Los Angeles Lakers, becoming only the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 30 points, 15 assists and 10 steals in a single game.
That year Payton led the SuperSonics to the NBA Finals, where he excelled and managed to limit Michael Jordan's scoring. After the first three games of the 1996 Finals, the SuperSonics were tied 3-0 by Michael Jordan and his 72-win Bulls. In Game 4, Jordan scored his lowest 23 points in any previous Finals under Payton's defense, while Payton had 21 points, 11 assists and 7 steals. In Game 5, the SuperSonics beat the Bulls by 21 points, and Payton gave Jordan 26 points; In Game 6, Payton played 47 minutes, allowing Jordan to deflect 14 of his 19 shots, once again setting a career low of 22 points in a single game in the Finals.
Of the six finals in Michael Jordan's career, 1996 had the lowest shooting percentage and scoring. But the Bulls eventually defeated the SuperSonics 4-2, giving Jordan his first championship since his comeback. Payton suffered a calf injury, but averaged 21 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.7 turnovers per game while shooting 48.8 percent from the field
Gary Payton was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in February 2003, a turning point in his career. The deal came minutes before the NBA transfer gate closed, and the SuperSonics traded Payton and another main player, Desmond Mason, to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for the opposing main Ray Allen and backup guard Kevin Ollie, rookie Ronald Murray, and a limited 2003 first-round pick, the biggest deal in the Sonics' 36 years.
He played a season with the Bucks, where he helped the team make the playoffs and had 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.4 steals in the first round against the New Jersey Nets.
In the summer of 2003, in pursuit of a championship, Payton came to the Los Angeles Lakers and formed the "F4" lineup with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, and Karl Malone . However, due to the injuries of Malone and O'Neal, as well as the rise of the Detroit Pistons, although Payton played all games and helped the team reach the Finals, the Lakers eventually lost to the Pistons 1-4.
Gary Payton came to the Boston Celtics for the 2004–05 season. He played one season with the Celtics, where he averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 rebounds during his season with the Celtics.
On September 23, 2005, the Miami Heat officially announced the signing of Gary Payton "The Glove" to a contract of $1.1 million a year. Peyton, who joined the Heat as a free agent, became one of the most important bench forces behind Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade. After the playoffs began, Payton repeatedly helped the Heat through difficult times with his rich game experience. In the end, the Heat, despite not being favored, won four consecutive games in the Finals, defeated the Mavericks 4-2, and successfully lifted the championship trophy.
Gary Payton is not only a good player, but also a great person. Off the pitch, he always showed his respect and love to his team and fans. He once said, "I consider the SuperSonics my home and I've had my best time here." He also once said: "I think the Supersonics fans are the best, they always give me unlimited support and encouragement. He returned to Seattle in June 2007 and signed a one-day contract with the SuperSonics to officially announce his retirement and retire his jersey number 20 by the SuperSonics. He announced his retirement in June 2007, ending a 17-year career.
Gary Payton has a tenacious and never give up personality, he always gives his all on the court, not afraid of any challenges and difficulties. He has been through multiple trades and firings, injuries and controversies, but he has never given up on his dreams and goals. With his hard work and talent, he has won countless accolades and respects.
Here's what some famous media outlets have to say about Payton:
Gary Payton does not have flashy crosses, does not have too many passionate bursts like Steve Francis, and does not have the calm mind like John Stockton, but he relies on fierce steals again and again, passes without looking at people, aerial relays with Sean Kemp again and again, shaking his head and talking trash after shooting shots, and becoming the most distinctive personality and most comprehensive player among the organizational guards in the 90s of the 20th century. (NetEase Review)
He's the strongest defensive point guard in history, and his offense is better than most. Whether it's individual defense or team defense, Payton is infallible. On the offensive end, Payton can shoot well, and his low-post singles are a big skill. Sports News