Rankings the best NBA nicknames of all time

13. The Glove

A legendary king of trash-talk and noted hero of the Pacific Northwest, and with all due respect to Chris Paul, there may be no better defender among point guards in NBA history than Gary Payton, whose nickname, “The Glove,” fits like Italian leather. The number two overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft out of Oregon State, Payton was already a first-team All-American and Pac-10 Player of the Year by the time he arrived with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Together with Shawn Kemp, Payton formed the “Sonic Boom,” an inside-outside combination that was equal parts thrilling and combustible. For his part, Payton was typically brilliant, especially on the defensive side of the ball, where he seemed to take the most pride in vanquishing otherwise world-class athletes. He is the only point guard in league history to have earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors, which he did in 1996, the year the Sonics lost to Michael Jordan’s 72-win Chicago Bulls in the Finals.

In light of how insanely incredible Payton was on defense, it’s easy to forget how good of a scorer he was: six times, he averaged over 20 points per game, and he got to a place of respectability with his 3-point shot. He was a nine-time All-Star and remarkably consistent presence in the back court, starting 82 games eight times in his career. Eventually, he did win a title in a supporting role with the 2006 Miami Heat, solidifying his immaculate defensive legacy with the all-important ring. The Glove always fit.