Biografi
Gary Payton played high school basketball at Skyline High School in Oakland, California, before attending Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Over his four-year tenure at OSU, he became one of the most celebrated players in the school's history. In his senior year, Payton graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as the nation's top player in 1990. He earned consensus All-American honors that year, was a three-time All-Pac-10 selection, and was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 1987. He won the MVP award at the Far West Classic tournament three times and was named Pac-10 Player of the Week nine times. Additionally, he was selected for the Pac-10 All-Decade Team. Upon graduation, he held OSU records for points, field goals, three-pointers, assists, and steals. During his time with the Beavers, the team made three NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT appearance. He was inducted into OSU's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
After college, Payton was chosen as the second overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. His NBA career includes All-NBA First Team selections in 1998 and 2000; All-NBA Second Team honors in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2002; and an All-NBA Third Team nod in 2001. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team for nine straight seasons (1994-2002) and earned the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996. Payton was selected to the NBA All-Star Team nine times and was a starter in 1997 and 1998. He also won gold medals with the U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Teams in 1996 and 2000.
In February 2003, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with Desmond Mason in exchange for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, and Ronald Murray. Later that year, in July 2003, the Los Angeles Lakers signed him as a free agent.
