Gary Payton is one of the OGs, the Glove was one of the biggest stars of the NBA in the 90s. His commanding presence on the court and his ability to clamp down on opposing guards means he has the respect of just about any player that has played basketball. But which modern NBA player is Payton’s favorite?
Gary Payton has a son in the NBA, who won a ring with the Golden State Warriors in 2022. He then got the bag from the Portland Trail Blazers, impressive considering that he went undrafted. But Gary Payton II isn’t his father’s favorite player in the modern NBA, that honor goes to someone else.
Ja Morant Is Gary Payton’s Favorite NBA Star
Ja Morant is an explosive talent, he creates highlight reels when he’s on the court that resonate across the basketball world. His recent dunk against the Indiana Pacers drew reactions from superstars like LeBron James. And Ja’s not just flash, he has substance to back it up, he is currently leading the Memphis Grizzlies to one of the best records in the entire league.
So it’s no surprise when asked about today’s NBA that Gary Payton told Kevin Garnett that there is only one star that he likes, and it’s none other than Ja Morant.
(starts at 35:38 minutes)
“There’s only one I like, really really tough, and that’s Ja. I like him a lot. I think he’s got a lot of dawg like me. I think he doesn’t back down to nobody, and he get it, he get the game. I like what he was saying just now, he not scared of nobody in the West, and he gonna get at Golden State on Christmas. I like it when he say stuff like that… And I just think he gonna give them 50. I really, really think what it is.”
While Gary Payton was emphatic in his appreciation for Ja Morant, he did also mention another player, especially defensively, naming Marcus Smart.
“And it’s only one defensive dude that really think that models me, and that’s Marcus Smart. I think he got that dawg in him too on that end and he causes havoc. He causes problems.”
Gary Payton was the man to present Marcus Smart with his Defensive Player of the Year trophy earlier in 2022, and it’s safe to say he has a lot of respect for him. Ja Morant’s game is also hard not to like and his fiery spirit makes him a favorite amongst fiery personalities like Payton. The Glove’s picks are not too surprising, both Ja and Smart are a lot like the legend himself.
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