Gary Payton Quotes

Guard some point guards, late shot clock, hopefully they miss.

My whole life I played the point, so naturally I think as a point. Two guard, I get to score more... During the game, I like to mix it up.

I average 25 with three guys on me and they are just looking at stats I guess.

I think the Pistons have such a well rounded team, which is why they're so successful. All you have to do is look at the stats defensively and at their rebounding and scoring.

In college, I got better at playing the 2, kind of got a feel for it coming off screens, found my rhythm. Before that I was a natural point guard.

I built my career in the league playing defense and making shots, and also making plays when I needed to.

I know I have to be good on pick-and-rolls.

I was guarding the best player and getting 25 and having eight assists, and three-four steals.

We need to play tough defense and have a sound offense. But mostly, we have to outrebound the other team.

I just try to set good screens and get my teammates open.

Back when I played, basketball was all about fundamentals, about hustling, getting those loose balls, all those rebounds under the basket. That equals up to 12, 14, 16 points. You can lose a game with that much. It's different watching basketball now. People don't play the same way. It doesn't matter if you score, if you can't stop the other team from scoring. Our coach used to kick our ass if we didn't. I was told if you saw more of the other team color under the basket than your own team color, you ain't doing your job. Everybody should be under the board, trying to get that ball.

Defense is what matters. Scoring doesn't interest me.

It's football. The game hasn't changed. There's not tons of new concepts every year that go in. Offense is offense; it's our job to move the ball, to score points, and keep our defense off the field.

When I play, there are things throughout the game that I notice, especially rebounding.

NBA teams like to see guys who can help a team win a game in a lot of fashions.

When kids start playing basketball, they all think about scoring.

Shooting threes is always going to be what I do best.

It's not just passing, I gotta play defense, I gotta rebound, I gotta talk, I could have 40 and not talk and not bring energy. But it's just trying to have an all-around game, just trying to be the leader I can be, get the pace up.

I think I'm a good offensive player, good defensive player. I do it on both ends of the floor.

As someone who has carved out a career in this league by making winning plays, being tough on defense and just generally doing the dirty work for my team, I always hesitate to say any player is unguardable. I just hate that term.

If I want any shot at getting on the floor, I gotta know what I'm doing defensively.

I can run up and down, shoot threes, or go inside. I can also get involved by setting screens and rebounding.

I am very confident in my game, whether I'm shooting, driving or creating for my teammates.

When I get in there, I'm not really worried about scoring. I'm just worried about playing as hard defense as I can play, making my opponent work, and then I know the offensive end will open up for me. I've been a scorer all my life, so that's what I try to pride myself on. It feels good.

I'm one of the best all-around small forwards in the world.