The point guard who is very famous but has never received assists. Gloves Gary Payton once defended Jordan

On May 8, in the long history of the NBA, countless legendary figures emerged in the position of point guards. They either conquer the audience with their gorgeous passing skills or rely on their unsolvable offensive abilities to dominate the field. However, there is such a player whose defensive ability is enough to be recorded in history. He even let the basketball god Michael Jordan suffer a lot in the finals, but he always missed the honor of assisting king - he is "Glove" Gary Payton.

Payton's career was brilliant, 9 All-Stars, 9 Best Defensive Team, and even won the Best Defensive Player in the 1995-96 season, becoming the only point guard in history to win this honor. However, when we open the NBA's assists list, we can't find Payton's name. This makes people wonder why such a top point guard has never been awarded the title of assisting king?

First, we need to understand Payton's basketball philosophy. Unlike traditional point guards, Payton prefers a balanced style of play. He is neither a pure passer master like John Stockton nor an attacking point guard who focuses on scoring like Allen Iverson. Payton's basketball wisdom is reflected in his all-round control of the game. During the Supersonics, he often had to switch roles between scores and organizations based on the game situation. Although this all-rounder's characteristic makes Payton a more comprehensive player, it also makes it difficult for his assist data to reach the top level.

Secondly, Payton's era and team system also affected his assists. The NBA in the 1990s emphasized half-field offense, and the game pace was relatively slow. Compared with the Jazz pick-and-roll master Stockton, Payton's Supersonics relies more on quick counterattacks and single-handed fights. The system created by head coach George Carl requires Payton to invest a lot of energy on the defensive end, which to some extent limits his energy to organize the offense. Interestingly, although Payton did not win the assists, his career total assists remained 10th in history, which is a testament to his durability and stability.

Peton's defensive ability is his most dazzling business card. In the 1996 Finals, his defense against Jordan became a classic moment in NBA history. Although the Bulls finally won the championship, Payton allowed Jordan to play one of the least efficient performances in his career finals. This suffocating defense requires a lot of physical strength, which will naturally affect his organizational efficiency on the offensive end. Just imagine, if Payton focused more on organizing offense, he might be able to attack the assist king, but then there might be one defensive master in NBA history.

From the perspective of technical characteristics, Payton's passing style also determines that his assist data is difficult to reach the top. His passes are mainly practical, not as performative as "white chocolate" Jason Williams, nor as capable as Steve Nash can deliver a large number of "direct assists". Payton's passes focus more on safety and timing. Although this steady style ensures the team's offense fluency, it is difficult to generate a large amount of gorgeous assist data.

It is worth mentioning that there is also a certain degree of chance in the selection of assist kings. At Peyton's peak, he ranked second in the league in assists in three seasons, losing to Stockton and Mark Jackson respectively. Stockton set an astonishing record for monopoly assisting the king for nine consecutive years. It can be said that Payton was born at the wrong time and met one of the greatest passers in NBA history.

However, no assist title will not detract from Payton's greatness in the slightest. His value cannot be measured by a single data. On the court, he is the soul and brain of the team; in the locker room, he is the undisputed leader. In 2006, Payton won the championship with the Heat, bringing a perfect end to his career. This championship ring may prove his worth more than any personal honor.

Looking back at Payton's career, we see a player who refuses to be defined. Instead of pursuing personal honors like assisting king, he devoted all his energy to helping the team win. This team-first spirit is particularly precious in today's data-first NBA. Payton proves with his actions that a great point guard can have many appearances, and his appearance—the defensive gate, the team leader, the championship member—is also worth remembering in history.

When evaluating a point guard, assist data is of course important, but it is by no means the only criterion. Gary Payton may not have the title of Assistant King, but he has something more precious - the respect of his opponent, the trust of his teammates and the love of his fans. In this sense, "Gloves" Payton has won more valuable honors than the assist king. His story tells us that the real greatness on the basketball court is never measured by a single data.