Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Gary Payton Makes Clear Michael Jordan Statement While Explaining His NBA Legacy

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 11:54 AM ET

NBA legend Gary Payton didn't mince words when talking about his legacy in the league. The Seattle SuperSonics icon became one of the best defenders in the association during his best years, leading Seattle to become one of the best squads in the Western Conference and an NBA Finals appearance in 1996.

Among other awards and honors, Payton won the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year award as the steals leader, was a nine-time All-Defensive First Team and a two-time All-NBA First Team.

10 years before he won his first and only NBA championship with the Miami Heat, Michael Jordan and the 72-10 Chicago Bulls stopped the SuperSonics in the Finals. "The Glove" had to go against the widely regarded greatest of all time, losing the championship in six games.

Payton didn't start the series defending the Bulls legend until George Karl realized he was the best chance his team had to slow down Jordan. A lot has been said about that matchup almost 30 years after it happened.

During a Thursday press conference, Payton was asked about his duels with Jordan. The Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame member made his thoughts clear about going against MJ or any other offensive threat.

“I don’t care about being the best defender on Michael Jordan," Payton said. "That doesn’t mean anything. I was the best defender on everybody. I don’t care about that. I guard everybody... I would want to be remembered as the first two-way basketball to play on both ends of the floor... My legacy started by me being a complete basketball player. Both ends of the floor.”

Gary Payton with an excellent encapsulation of his legacy as an NBA player

“I don’t care about being the best defender on Michael Jordan. That doesn’t mean anything. I was the best defender on everybody. I don’t care about that. I guard everybody... I would want to be remembered… pic.twitter.com/RaCHdUrtTW
— Ishaan Bhattacharya (@IshaanBhatta) June 5, 2025

Payton's legacy is so impressive that he was the last guard to win the DPOY until Marcus Smart won it in 2022.

He almost retired as one of those legends who played hard and left everything on the court but never won a ring. He helped a veteran Shaquille O'Neal and a young Dwyane Wade succeed in Miami while he fulfilled one of his goals.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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