But Payton is more than one of the NBAs great gabbers. And when he finally unlaces his size 12 Jordans for good, he will be remembered as one of the all-time NBA greats.
The future Hall of Famer has averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 assists and 1.97 steals throughout his 15-year NBA career. His reputation as a shutdown defender earned him the nickname Glove. Hes one of the best defensive players in NBA history, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1996, including eight-straight NBA All-Defensive First Team selections.
But its not just Paytons strength and quickness that gives the Glove the ability to wear down the opposing teams best perimeter player. His best defense just may be his mouth.
Payton, known around the NBA for his bobbing head when talking to opposing players or referees, says that looks arent always what they seem when hes talking on the court.
Sometimes I get accused of trash talking even though Im not, he said. When people see you talking with the referees or to other players, they immediately figure youre trash talking. But I could be talking to a guy about whats going on or asking about his family.
My father would always say, Talk to him. Try to talk him out of his game. If you talk to a player and you keep telling him that you can beat him, hell eventually start believing it.
Its all about mental toughness, and thats what I have, he continued. You just keep talking and keep playing. Some players want to get mad and take it personal, but thats how you know you got them they start thinking about you all the time.
Payton admits that trash talking is becoming a lost art an art that hes going to try to keep around as long a possible.
There arent too many guys who talk out on the court now. Reggie Miller was always talking, but hes retired now. (Los Angeles Clipper guard) Sam Cassell is a talker. Hell really wear you down. Today, everyone just go out there and play basketball, which is a good thing. Its just basketball and youre not distracted by other stuff.
Even though Payton has gotten into the heads, and under the skin, of many basketball players, from the playground to the NBA, Payton very rarely crosses the line.
I never take it too far. I dont know the people who I talk about. I just try to talk and get their mind off the game and turn their attention on me.
In 1996, he established the Gary Payton Foundation to help underprivileged children stay in school and provide safe places for recreational activities. He is active in the Girls & Boys Clubs of America and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Hes even written an autobiographical childrens book entitled Confidence Counts (Positively For Kids). In addition, Payton donates HEAT tickets to underprivileged children as part of the HEATs Player Corner program. Last Christmas, he also gave 60 children from Voices For Children Foundation a $100 shopping spree at Toys R Us in Miami.
Opposing players may say that Payton has a big mouth, but ask the thousands of people who he has touched through community outreach; they will say Payton has a big heart.