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NBA History: Ranking the 15 greatest point guards of all time

By Josh Cornelissen

Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers and Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns. Photo by Mansoor Ahmed/WireImage
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers and Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns. Photo by Mansoor Ahmed/WireImage /
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Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics. Photo by HECTOR MATA / AFP /

15 greatest point guards in NBA History — No. 11: Gary Payton

Not to be confused with his namesake son who won a title with the Golden State Warriors in 2022, Gary Payton made a name for himself as the rare point guard who was absolutely elite on both ends of the court. Point guard is the most difficult position to be a defensive difference-maker from, and yet Payton did so at an elite level for such a long time that he earned the moniker “The Glove” for how tightly he defended opponents.

One point guard in NBA history has won Defensive Player of the Year: Gary Payton. Marcus Smart has a case to be the second depending on where you place him positionally. It’s such rare company to be in, and Payton was not a one-hit-wonder; he made an All-Defense Team nine times throughout his career.

Payton was the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, and he played the next 12.5 seasons with them, making nine All-Star appearances and nine All-NBA nods. Seattle made the playoffs ten of those seasons, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 1995-96 before losing to the buzzsaw that was Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

At the tail end of his career, Payton transitioned to being a defensive shark and lower-rung offensive option on contending teams, making the NBA Finals in 2004 with the Los Angeles Lakers before coming off the bench and winning a title with the 2006 Miami Heat.

Payton ranks fifth in career steals and 10th in career assists, and a still-respectable 35th in career points. He was a special, dominant player in an era where the league was defined by taller players.