Gary Payton Quotes

I think if you ask any young guy if they would want a career like Gary Payton, they would tell you yes.

Kevin Garnett was a great player, but he wasn't Kobe Bryant.

Kobe's legacy is definitely one of the best players to play this game ever.

Pau is one of the best big men in the game. I mean, Pau Gasol is going to be in the Hall of Fame.

Magic Johnson was in the seventh year of his Hall of Fame career when thoughts of his basketball afterlife led him to the office of uber-executive Michael Ovitz, co-founder of Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood's most powerful agency.

The best player I ever coached was Gary Payton.

I know he's retired, but I'm a big fan of Shaquille O'Neal, his game and his personality. I have a pair of his shoes in my office. You see the size of his shoe and think, 'This is not real, this couldn't belong to a human being.' But he is human!

When somebody asks about the greatest players in history, I start with Bill Russell. More than the best player is the MVP, and the MVP in the history of team sports is Bill Russell.

You talk about Shaq, I would put Tim Duncan in that same category. Mr. Fundamental, just kept things simple. He is a great teammate, a great player, and a great person. When you have those ingredients in a champion, you just want to be a part of that and have an opportunity to play with him.

Tim Duncan was a marvelous player. He played the game from the four, the five position. He was one of the unique players, like a Michael Jordan, who could get to spaces on the floor you that you couldn't do anything about.

Bill Russell is one of the greatest players of all time.

Steph Curry - I haven't seen anyone on his level, bringing that type of showmanship with excellence.

There is nothing that will be bigger than a Michael Jordan tribute.

Obviously, Kobe is one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players to ever play... he's the best point guard to ever play, so I can learn a lot of things from him.

Since I've been five, people asked me if we're related. It is usually the third question in the line of questions. What's your name? Sue Bird. Oh, what do you do? I play basketball. Are you related to Larry Bird? That's how it goes. I guess it could be worse, though, since he is a legend and all.

I've looked up to Michael Jordan because not only was he an assassin on offense, he was an assassin on defense.

Growing up, Magic Johnson was my idol. He was a good example. He could always pass the ball extremely well and get his teammates involved.

Stephon Marbury is the bomb. He is going to be so good.

I was a big Magic Johnson fan. And I guess people who knew that gave a name that... In that vein. I tried to play like him.

You can't have a greater person to emulate your game around than Scottie Pippen.

Growing up watching the league, Allen Iverson was my favorite player. But once I got here, Steve Nash instantly became my favorite.

Kobe Bryant has always been my favorite player, and he was drafted No. 13, too, in 1996.

In my mind, LeBron James is the best player in the league.

Well, like every kid playing basketball, I dreamed of being an NBA player.