Glove Holds Title As Top PG

by Benny Sin
exclusive to The Dish

 Who is the best point guard in the NBA? For many people, that is a simple question. "Jason Kidd", says my neighbor Alan. Alan is a fob that lives in my apartment complex. He's into Allen Iverson, and of course, Michael Jordan. Alan's opinion about the best point guard in the league is shared by many, and it's safe to say the majority of basketball fans believe Jason Kidd is the best point guard in basketball.

Well, I'm not one of those people.

Gary Payton is my pick, I truly believes he is the best point guard in the NBA today and he has been the #1 point guard in the league for close to 8 years now. Hell, take Michael Jordan away, and GP would have been the best GUARD in all of NBA for the past 8 years. I've followed Gary Payton for many years, I remember him winning the defensive player of the year award when I was in 7th grade. Going into the NBA Finals, Gary Payton was on fire. Even going head to head against basketball king Michael Jordan, Gary Payton had no fear. Gary Payton bragged and talked trash. At the time, Michael Jordan was undoubtedly the best player in the world, no one was even close. For a guy to challenge Jordan like that was a bold move. Gary Payton went on to play AMAZING defense on Jordan, although I don't have the exact number, I'm sure Jordan averaged less points in the 96 Finals then any other Finals. In the title-clinching game 6, Jordan only scored 22 points.

In 1999, Gary Payton led a team of mediocre players to the playoffs. He averged 24 points, 9 assist, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals for the season. He also led the whole league in three point field goals made. He got no votes for MVP, in fact he wasn't even a candidate. To put things in perspective, last season Kobe Bryant averged 25, 5 and 5. And there was a big deal made about it. Every magazine I read and I heard about Kobe's 25, 5, 5. Tracy McGrady was bragging in a recent issue of slam about how him and Kobe were the only two players to averge 25, 5 and 5 in the league last year. 25, 5 and 5, compared to 24, 9 and 6.... you do the math. Gary Payton is not physically gifted like Kobe or Tracy McGrady. Gary Payton is 6 foot 4, 180 pounds. He has no hops, he can barely dunk. He averaged 6 rebounds a game for a whole season. Imagine if GP had Tracy McGrady's body and hops, he woulda averaged like 8, 9 rebounds that year! 24, 9 and 6 are the best all-around numbers since Magic! Johnson and Michael Jordan's 80's numbers, no one else has came close in the 90s, and no one will come close for a while.

Another part of Gary Payton's greatness is his toughness. In his 13 NBA seasons, Gary Payton has missed 5 games, and 2 of those were suspensions. Again, to put things in perspective, Shaq missed more games this year then Gary Payton did in 13 years. Kobe missed more games in 1999 then Gary Payton did all his career. Vince Carter missed enough games this year then Gary Payton did all career. In the history of the NBA, not alot of guys have been as durable as Gary Payton. Karl Malone is the only other guy that comes to mind.

Even at the old age of 35, Gary Payton is still the top point guard in the league. He is still better then Jason Kidd because Jason Kidd can't shoot and can't score at will. Kidd may be the better pure point guard, but Payton is the better player. Years from now, when people talk about all time great point guards, Gary Payton's name deserves to be up there with Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas.

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