VINCENT LAFORET/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Prime defensive accolades: One Defensive Participant of the Yr award, 9 All-Defensive 1st Crew choices, one time NBA steals chief, eight years receiving Defensive Participant of the Yr votes
NBA rank: fifth in steals, 179th in defensive rebounds
One in every of simply two gamers listed at level guard to ever win Defensive Participant of the Yr, 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 Yr vote two different occasions in his profession.
Indisputably, Payton is the GOAT relating to point-guard defenders, as he had elite lateral quickness, implausible 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 collection that possibly 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 sphere within the first three video games. He’s typically stated 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 collection “I used to be simply coming off successful the NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr, first level guard to ever do it. Then hastily, Jordan had obtained MVP. So Sports activities Illustrated put me on the quilt of it – Mission Unattainable, can I do it? And hastily, 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 stated overlook this harm, we’re down 3-0, let’s strive,” Payton said.
With Payton as his major defender, Jordan’s numbers fell to 23.7 factors on 36.7 p.c capturing from the sphere 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 Crew honors all 9 occasions, 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.
