Gary Payton

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Lore & Background

Payton was the first (and, until Marcus Smart was selected in 2022, only) point guard to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. He was selected for nine All-NBA Teams, All-Defensive First Teams (tying the record), and All-Star Games each. He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Payton's Miami tenure occurred in Game 3 of the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Trailing the series 2–0 and facing elimination after losing the final quarter of Game 3, the Heat mounted a comeback led by Dwyane Wade. In a crucial sequence, Jason Williams passed to Payton, who faked his defender and hit a game-winning jump shot to prevent Miami from falling into a 3–0 deficit. Later in the series, during Game 5, Payton scored 8 points, including making Miami's final field goal with 29 seconds remaining to secure a one-point victory. These clutch plays were instrumental as the Heat returned to Dallas for Game 6 and won 95–92, securing their first NBA championship.

Reader's Guide

On September 22, 2005, he signed a one-year $1.1 million contract with Miami, reuniting with Walker (who was acquired seven weeks earlier by the Heat), as well as former Lakers' teammate Shaquille O'Neal. Serving as a backup to Jason Williams, Payton averaged 7.7 points and started 25 of 81 games. In the playoffs, Payton did not start but averaged 24.3 minutes a game after averaging 28.5 minutes during the regular season, often playing during pressure situations in the 4th quarter of games. In Game 4 of the semifinals against the New Jersey Nets, Payton hit a critical three-pointer with 56 seconds left in the game to clinch the Heat victory. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road against the Detroit Pistons, Payton scored 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, helping the Heat set the tone in the series. Miami won the series in 6 games to reach the team's first ever Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. Miami lost the first two games in Dallas and trailed in the final.

Did You Know?

• Payton was the second overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.
• He wore the #20 jersey for the majority of his NBA career, except for his rookie season when he wore #2.
• Payton recorded his first career triple-double on February 23, 1991, with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
• He was a consensus All-American and three-time All-Pac-10 selection at Oregon State.