If The Glove Don't Fit...Will He, Uh, Quit?

Pat Riley tells the AP that the Heat don't want Gary Payton anymore, and the Sonics legend has--according to the AP--been talking retirement. Not having a team would seem a good excuse.

Payton, who the Sonics took with the #2 pick in the 1990 draft, has played 17 NBA seasons.

Since he started in 1990-91, Payton has:
--Scored 21,455 points (3rd in the NBA in that span behind Malone and Shaq).
--Recorded 2,402 steals (most in the NBA in that span)
--Recorded 8,763 assists (2nd to Stockton)
--Averaged 10 dimes/game (tied with Marbury)

Payton was the highest-scoring point guard of the 90s, and fourth-highest-scoring guard overall (Richmond, Miller, Jordan).

On the NBA all-time lists, Payton is 23rd in points (only 350 points behind Bird!), 6th in assists, and 3rd in steals. (He's also 14th in turnovers, but Jordan is 15th, so...)

On Sonics' lists, he's #1 in minutes, points, three pointers made, assist and steals (obviously), and #2 in games played (Fred Brown). He's even #3 in rebounds (Sikma, Kemp).

All this by way of saying that Gary Payton is a sure Hall-of-Famer and if not for Oscar Robertson is probably the best point guard of all-time.

You can buy that 1992-92 Fleer Gary Payton card for $5.40 at CheckOutMyCards.com