All-Time Greatest NBA Point Guards, Ranked

Trash talk was the soundtrack. Defense was the brand. Gary Payton, also known as “The Glove,” locked up legends and let them know it. In 1996, he became the first and only point guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, helping the Sonics reach the NBA Finals.

Payton was more than just a stopper—he averaged 20+ points for seven straight seasons and ranks in the top 10 all-time in assists and steals. Later, he won a title with the 2006 Miami Heat. Unafraid, unmatched, and always vocal, Payton didn’t just guard the best—he broke them. And he made sure they heard about it.