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#3 Gary Payton
Career Stat line: 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.2 blocks per game
Career Honors: NBA Champion (2006), Defensive Player of the Year (1996), 2xAll-NBA First Team (1998, 2000), 5xAll-NBA Second Team (1995-97, 1999, 2002), 2xAll-NBA Third Team (1994, 2001), 9xAll-Defensive First Team (1994-2002), 9x All Star(1994-1998, 2000-2003)
Arguably the greatest defender to ever play at the point guard position, The Glove was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 2nd overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft. While he wasn't a great scorer at the offensive end, Payton's defensive play and playmaking was transcendent even in his first 3 seasons.
He raised his scoring average to 16.5 points per game in the 1993-94 NBA season and received a number of All-NBA honors, including his first selection to the All-Star game. Together with Shawn Kemp, they formed the Sonic Boom combo and made his first Finals series in 1996 against the Bulls led by Michael Jordan.
The Sonics were the only team to beat the Bulls thrice that season, and Gary Payton's defense on Michael Jordan in games 3-5 in the Finals series reduced his Airness' impact enough for the Sonics to win 2 games.
Payton received Defensive Player of the Year honors that year and remains the only point guard ever to win the award. He is tied with Michael Jordan, Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant for the most selections to the All-Defensive First Team at 9.
Later in his career, Payton went ring-chasing, finally winning it with the Miami Heat in the 2005-06 season after disappointment in the Finals with the Lakers in 2003-04. Payton is one of the most complete players ever to play the guard position, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2013.
