NBA career Gary Payton

1 nba career

1.1 seattle supersonics (1990–2003)
1.2 milwaukee bucks (2003)
1.3 los angeles lakers (2003–04)
1.4 boston celtics (2004–05)
1.5 miami heat (2005–07)

nba career
seattle supersonics (1990–2003)

payton second overall pick in 1990 nba draft seattle supersonics, , spent first 12½ seasons sonics. entering league star-studded expectations, payton struggled during first 2 seasons in league, averaging 8.2 points per game during span. however, proved himself 1 of league s top point guards, while, during 1990s payton, alongside shawn kemp formed sonic boom – 1 of thrilling tandems of time. earned first of 9 consecutive all-nba team selections when chosen all-nba third team in 1994. payton go on make all-nba first-team in 1998 , 2000, all-nba second team in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, , 2002, , all-nba third team in 1994 , 2001. selected nba all-defensive first team record 9 consecutive seasons (1994–2002), , won nba defensive player of year award in 1996, first guard win award in 8 years. has been selected nba all-star team 9 times , voted starter in 1997 , 1998. member of gold medal-winning 1996 , 2000 u.s. men s olympic basketball teams. in 1996, payton , supersonics, under coach george karl, reached nba finals after winning franchise record 64 games , lost in 6 games michael jordan s chicago bulls.

milwaukee bucks (2003)

in middle of 2002–03 season @ trade deadline, payton traded milwaukee bucks along desmond mason in exchange ray allen, kevin ollie, , ronald murray. payton played remaining 28 games bucks, averaging 19.6 points , 7.4 assists per game. bucks faced defending eastern conference champion new jersey nets in first round of playoffs, pushing nets 6 games before losing more experienced , rounded nets. payton led bucks in scoring (18.5) , assists (8.7) during series, included 20-point 14 assist performance in game 4 milwaukee win.

los angeles lakers (2003–04)

as unrestricted free agent prior 2003–04 season, payton, along karl malone, signed los angeles lakers make run @ first nba championship. payton started in 82 games , averaged 14.6 points 5.5 assists , 1.2 steals struggled lakers coach phil jackson s triangle offense, limited ball-handling , post-up opportunities. payton provided offense in games superstar teammates shaquille o neal or kobe bryant not play due injury, including 30-point output in overtime win against cleveland cavaliers on february 4.

despite injuries malone, o neal , bryant throughout season, lakers won 56 games , pacific division. in playoffs, payton averaged 7.8 points per game scored 15 points in games 3 , 6 of lakers semifinal series against san antonio spurs, , scored 18 points go 9 assists in game 3 of western conference finals against minnesota timberwolves. lakers reach nba finals before falling detroit pistons in 5 games, payton struggling contain chauncey billups torched laker defense , won finals mvp award.

boston celtics (2004–05)

prior 2004–05 season, lakers traded payton , rick fox boston celtics center chris mihm, small forward jumaine jones , point guard chucky atkins. while payton expressed displeasure trade, did report boston , began 2004–05 season celtics starting point guard. on february 24, 2005 payton traded atlanta hawks in deal brought former celtic antoine walker boston. hawks waived payton following trade, , returned week later boston free agent. payton started 77 games played boston , averaged 11.3 points per game , 6.1 assists celtics won atlantic division before losing in first round indiana pacers.

miami heat (2005–07)

on september 22, 2005, signed one-year $1.1 million contract miami, reuniting walker (who acquired 7 weeks earlier heat), former lakers teammate shaquille o neal. serving backup jason williams, payton averaged 7.7 points , started 25 of 81 games. in playoffs, payton did not start averaged 24.3 minutes game after averaging 28.5 minutes during regular season, playing during pressure situations in 4th quarter of games. in game 4 of semifinals against new jersey nets, payton hit critical 3 pointer 56 seconds left in game clinch heat victory. in game 1 of eastern conference finals on road against detroit pistons, payton scored 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting, helping heat set tone in series. miami won series in 6 games reach team s first ever finals against dallas mavericks. miami lost first 2 games in dallas, , trailed in final quarter of game 3 before comeback led dwyane wade culminated jason williams pass payton, faked defender , hit game winning jump-shot keep miami falling 3–0 in series. in game 5, payton scored 8 points, including miami s final field goal 29 seconds left, clinch three-point victory. heat returned dallas game 6 , won 95–92, securing first , payton s nba title.

on september 6, 2006, 38-year-old payton re-signed defending champion miami heat on one-year, $1.2 million contract. during subsequent 2006–07 nba season, payton continued climb several nba all-time lists: moved 17th 8th in all-time nba games played, passed john havlicek , robert parish move 7th in all-time minutes played, , passed hal greer , larry bird become 21st-highest scorer in nba history.