Gary Payton Quotes

I'll knock down the open jumper when it's there, but I want to get after it on the defensive end.

You don't cut anywhere, don't pick down anywhere, don't double screen, no weak side picking. All these things that should happen in a game of basketball don't happen anymore.

I just think I've got to be more aggressive at both ends of the floor. When I'm aggressive on the defensive end it really helps me on offense.

Offence doesn't concern me. It's easier for people to get layups than it is to get stops on defence or a block.

I mean, defense to me is something that when you watch a game you don't really pay attention to defense unless you're very - unless you're a specialist.

Street basketball is all about shakes and fakes, crossing your defender up. The NBA is more strategic.

In high school, I figured I'd get a few extra baskets by getting steals. I would just pressure up the ball.

I like playing size per position defensively.

I was a guy that had a lot of tools and could do a lot of other things, but my main thing was controlling the defensive end of the court.

New York basketball is about defense.

The game changes when you play good defense and don't come up with the ball.

You look at today, it's a different situation. You have a game that has been transformed into a game where almost every shot is either an outside shot - a three-point shot - or a dunk.

I always thought the objective of basketball was to get the maximum amount of movement to get the easiest shot, closest to the basket. With the three-point rule, the whole strategy changes, and you make a move and then throw it 30 feet out, where somebody takes a standing jump shot.

I don't love playing zone all the time, because it does have an effect on your offense.

You can be a great defensive player, and if you don't put up splash statistics, then you're not going to get noticed.

I just try to make the right play, stay aggressive and defensively just do what I do. I make sure I talk to everyone and control the paint.

I don't want to just shoot 3s. I'm not that type of player.

If you've got a big man who scores the ball, you've got to defend, and if you've got a shooter, you've got to pick and choose who you're going to defend.

When I get the ball, I have to be ready to be in scoring mode.

Tony Allen is a good defender, very smart.

I've always gotten credit for being a big man who doesn't want to shoot threes. Throughout my entire basketball career prior to coming to the NBA, I was praised for doing that.

If you commit to the defensive end of the floor, you're going to have a chance to win every night. And if you're a great defensive team, you're going to go to the playoffs.

I can stretch the defense.

Not all players want to play defense. You get in foul trouble, you're going to be on the bench.

Just seeing the progression, the evolution of the NBA game, I feel like you have a lot of big men shooting 3s.