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Gary Payton Names Toughest Player He Ever Guarded And It's Not Michael Jordan
Derick Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
While appearing on Vlad TV, Hall of Fame point guard Gary Payton named NBA legend John Stockton as the toughest he ever guarded. Even tougher than guarding Michael Jordan. Yeah right...
quote:

“I got to guard him 94 feet. I got to think about coming off of picks, he’s throwing passes, he’s coming back trying to steal basketballs, he’s always moving, he’s taking charges on me, he’s doing a lot of things. I have to always focus on him,” Payton said.
(The Spun)
Filed Under: NBA
17 Comments
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nomar32 months
Stockton only missed 22 games in 19 seasons. He played in the NBA when it was way rougher and tougher with hand checking and aggressive picks. His assist and steals records win stand for a long time if not unbeatable in the way basketball is played today.
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Only MJ would consider this a dig at him. Can gary not say something complimentary about another player without it being a shot at Jordan? Pasty gangster was a helluva player and had those sharp elbows, then run you into a Karl Malone pick. I can definitely see him being a handful.
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Stockton was definitely a stud player!
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Wallace Ritchie32 months
This shows how much Jordan is hated by his peers. Mike literally has no friends.
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genuineLSUtiger32 months
Both Payton and Isiah are full of shite and look like complete morons with these comments. If you ever played against Michael Jordan and had to defend him he was hands down the toughest player you ever had to defend.
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Timeoday32 months
My all time 5 basketball players does not even include Jordan. Jordan hyped due to NIKE money. Most protected player in history of sport.
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arcalades32 months
2 geniuses probably never saw these guys play. Gary Payton didn't mind guarding Jordan. Jordan liked to post up, and GP was a great post defender. Jordan didn't move without the basketball. If you've played man to man, you know players like Stockton and Reggie Miller were nightmares to guard bc you didn't get to rest at all. those guys wanted to rest more than they were worried about Jordan scoring on them. All these things were said about Stockton every sunday he was on NBC tv back in the 90's.
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Big Scrub TX32 months
"Like a stone face!"
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Big Scrub TX32 months
Stockton holds 2 records(steals and assists) that will never be broken. They don't get brought up enough on those lists when people do them. He leads Jason Kidd in assists by 3800!
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themicah8532 months
They will, lebron will probably line up a game where he does nothing but throws assist all game for a week or 2 straight if necessary to beat it. He will pay off teams with his hundreds of millions of dollars built off child labor In the name of equality and whatnot.
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goodgrin32 months
Chris Jackson was a better player than Gary Payton in college and the NBA.
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lsusteve132 months
GP did a pretty good job on CJ when they faced off in College Basketball. Offensively, I'd agree
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CanebreakCajun32 months
He has said this many times, this is not new. He said it was because Stockton never stopped moving, was physical and highly efficient. The Glove was also has to play Stockton much more since he was the West.
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redbullwings32 months
Stockton is so overlooked when talking about All-Time greats of the NBA. He's top 2/3 at his position. Building a team of HOF players I think you take him as your PG 10/10 times. His team first mentality took away an opportunity for him to shine as an individual, which he certainly could have. I was really hoping his son would end up like him. Guess I have a soft spot for lil white dudes playing basketball lol.
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gamecockman1232 months
I always laugh when people try to argue with one of the better all time NBA defenders.
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sportsaddit6832 months
Why the "yeah right"? He didn't say John was the best scorer. Gary is one of the best defenders to ever play the game. I think he knows a thing or two about defending. I believe him. John was very dynamic as a ball player. He wasn't putting up 40 points a game, but he was putting up lots of assists. Utah's entire offense was centered around John creating and hitting the open man.. mostly Malone.
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VaeVictus32 months
Stockton could also fill the basket up if he wanted. He was a terrific shooter.
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