Gary Payton, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest defensive guards in NBA history, built his legacy with the Seattle SuperSonics before winning a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006. Known as “The Glove” for his elite perimeter defense, Payton played alongside some of the best talents in basketball. Recently, he revealed his all-time starting five from his former teammates—but surprisingly, he left out Dwyane Wade, sparking debate among fans.
Speaking on the Knuckleheads podcast, Payton put together his dream lineup, which featured some of the greatest players he shared the court with in his teams: Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.
“I’ma put Kobe at the two, Shawn [Kemp] at the three, Karl Malone at the four, and Shaq at the five… I had D-Wade, but I can’t put D-Wade over Kobe. I can’t do that,” Payton said. “You gotta understand, Shawn was a beast, Karl Malone was a beast in his prime, and then I cannot not do Shaq. You know I can’t do that.”
While Payton made it clear that Wade is an all-time great, he couldn’t justify placing him over NBA legends like Kobe Bryant or even Malone, one of the most dominant power forwards in league history.
The career of Hall of Famer Gary Payton
Gary Payton, established himself as one of the greatest point guards in NBA history with his elite defense, playmaking, and relentless trash talk. Selected second overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, Payton quickly became the franchise’s cornerstone. His defensive prowess and leadership helped Seattle rise to prominence in the mid-1990s, culminating in an NBA Finals appearance against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in 1996. That season, Payton won Defensive Player of the Year—the only point guard to ever achieve that honor.
After over a decade with the SuperSonics, Payton was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2003 before joining the Los Angeles Lakers later that year in pursuit of a championship. Teaming up with Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Karl Malone, Payton reached the 2004 NBA Finals but fell short against the Detroit Pistons. He then had a brief stint with the Boston Celtics before finally landing with the Miami Heat in 2005, where he played a key veteran role in helping Wade and Shaq secure the franchise’s first NBA title in 2006.
Beyond his NBA success, Payton also excelled on the international stage, winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 1996 Atlanta Games. His career was defined by defensive intensity, clutch performances, and an unmatched competitive spirit that made him a nightmare for opposing guards.
After retiring in 2007, Payton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest two-way guards of all time. His influence on the game remains evident today, as he is often cited as the blueprint for defensive excellence at the point guard position.