Fansided

Picking the best NBA player from each state

By Brad Rowland

Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the American Flag being displayed prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the American Flag being displayed prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 51
Next
Mar 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Former NBA player Gary Payton watches his son participate during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Former NBA player Gary Payton watches his son participate during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

California – Gary Payton

As you may expect, California is one of the more loaded states when it comes to NBA talent. making an inherently tough decision even more difficult. Those players include Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Reggie Miller, Reggie Theus, Gail Goodrich, Dennis Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes, Kevin Johnson, and others from years gone by, and that doesn’t even take into account current stars such as Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Love.

Needless to say, this was a tough call, but I’m going with Gary Payton.

“The Glove” holds the distinction as being perhaps the best defensive point guard of all-time, and that is the most significant reason for his inclusion. Payton was named as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1995-1996 while earning nine All-Star nods and nine All-Defense honors, and he ranks fourth on the all-time steal list with 2,445 over a 17-year career.

Offensively, Payton was no slouch, putting up career averages of 16.3 points and 6.7 assists per game, to go along with a nine-year peak in which he averaged 21.4 points and 8.1 assists per contest (from 1995 through 2003). The 6-foot-4 guard is often knocked for his lack of efficiency as a scorer, and that is certainly warranted, but in contrast with Kidd, Allen, Pierce, and Miller, the defensive value pushes Payton’s candidacy over the top.

This pick should generate discussion, but one thing is certain: Gary Payton was a bad man.

Next: Colorado

Home/NBA