If Gary Payton did not hang up the sneakers with a ring, he has the very prestigious honorary title of being one of the greatest “Jordan-stoppers” in history. So how did he do it? The Glove has revealed its secret.
Fans of rough 1990s basketball vividly remember the manly clashes between Michael Jordan and Gary Payton. At the top of his game, MJ had to contend with the defensive quality of the Sonics point guard, as well as son trash-talking assassin and his eternally underrated offensive skill.
And although the Bulls triumphed over Seattle in the 1996 Finals, GP reduced MJ to his worst all-time performance at this stage of competition, contributing to a fine reputation for one remembered in history as “The Glove”. , in tribute to his defensive prowess.
A guest of Kenny Beecham most recently, Payton elaborated on what allowed him to do what others could only dream of: reducing the effectiveness of Michael Jordan.
When you don’t let him receive the ball in his preferred spot, he has to work harder and expend more energy. And so on the other side of the field, I attack him so that he spends even more, always more.
Phil Jackson finally realized it and said: “It’s too much, we’re going to put Pippen on Payton instead.” He was a taller player, and I couldn’t play low post against him.
But in short, yes, that’s why against Jordan you always see me in front of him at the post, to make him work, to make him deserve his ball, and the referees let us play. A great player like him never stops fighting, and neither do I. My goal was to use it up.
For those who want to join the images to the words of Glove, here is what it could give in a duel. An effective technique, only accessible to those who are elite players on both sides of the field, and in particular in defense:
Despite the 1996 loss, Gary Payton seems to be happy to have known how to impact Michael Jordan. His Majesty, he must smile with his 6 rings on his finger while listening to GP …
