Page 3 - 50 Greatest NBA Players ever - 41 to 50 on our Best NBA Players list

#48 Gary Payton

Career averages: 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.2 blocks per game

Shooting splits: 46.6% from the field, 31.7% on 3-pointers, 72.9% from the free throw line

Accolades: NBA Champion (2006), Defensive Player of the Year (1995-96), 2-time All-NBA First Teamer (1998, 2000), 5-time All-NBA Second Teamer (1995-1997, 1999, 2002), 2-time All-NBA First Teamer (1994, 2001), 9-time NBA All-Star (1994-1998, 2000-2003), 9-time All-Defensive First Teamer (1994-2002)

Records: NBA steals leader (1995-96), Supersonics franchise leader in steals

Also read: Top 10 Assists Leaders in NBA History

Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich heralded Gary Payton as the most complete point guard in the history of the league. It is precisely this notion that nearly made me drop off my chair when Payton nearly dropped out of our top 50, as 3 panelists failed to mention his name among the top 50. Nevertheless, he still makes the cut in 48th place, although he should be nearer to the top 30 in my book.

Payton wasn't called The Glove for nothing. The only point guard in NBA history to be awarded a Defensive Player of the Year title, The Glove was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 2nd pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. He was a very raw prospect and found his rookie season to be a steep learning curve as he averaged only 6 points per game.

Payton took his low scoring average personally, working on improving his craft. He was a resounding success at this, increasing his scoring average to 20.7 points per game by his 6th professional season after a steady increase in his scoring ability, year-on-year, up until that point.

Tasked with guarding Michael Jordan in Games 3 to 6 of the 1996 NBA Finals, The Glove held MJ to his lowest points per game average and field goal percentage in 6 Finals series, although the Sonics predictably lost the series 4-2 having initially fallen to a 3-0 deficit.

Payton continued to build his legend in the league as a defensive stopper who, at the height of 6'4", was able to guard 1-4 and lock his opponents down. Despite a storied career with the Sonics, the departure of Shawn Kemp to the Cleveland Cavaliers and a subsequent weakening of the Sonics' roster meant that Kemp became a wantaway star by his 13th season, earning a move to the Milwaukee Bucks at the trade deadline in 2003.

He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2003-04 season along with The Mailman, but the Lakers' fabled starting five came up a cropper in the Finals series against the Pistons as Payton regressed offensively during the playoffs. He became a role player for the Celtics the following season, before finally earning a well-deserved championship ring as the starting point guard for the Miami Heat in their 2005-06 season.

After another season with the Heat, Payton hung up his boots at the age of 39 years. His defensive tenacity inspired a generation of heralded defensive guards after him in Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen and later on, Chris Paul. The Glove was the real deal and has left a lasting impact on the league.