Gary Payton Names His All-Time Starting 5
Gary Payton Names His All-Time Starting 5
Gary Payton recently revealed his all-time starting five from players he teamed up with throughout his NBA career. The Hall of Fame point guard made some difficult decisions when constructing his dream lineup, notably leaving Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade off the roster.
On the Knuckleheads podcast, Payton named himself at point guard while selecting Kobe Bryant at shooting guard, Shawn Kemp at small forward, Karl Malone at power forward, and Shaquille O’Neal at center. His reasoning for these choices revealed both his basketball knowledge and personal connections to these players.
The shooting guard selection presented perhaps the most difficult choice. Despite winning a championship with Wade in Miami in 2006, Payton ultimately chose Bryant over the Heat star. “I can’t put D-Wade over Kobe,” Payton explained, showing his deep respect for the Lakers legend.
Payton’s time with Bryant was brief but impactful. The two played together during the 2003-04 season with the Lakers, reaching the NBA Finals before falling to the Detroit Pistons. Though their partnership lasted just one season, Payton clearly developed tremendous admiration for Bryant’s skills and work ethic.
For the small forward position, Payton selected his longtime Seattle SuperSonics teammate Shawn Kemp. The Payton-Kemp connection produced one of the most exciting duos of the 1990s, with their pick-and-roll combinations and alley-oops becoming highlight staples.
“You got to understand Shawn was a beast,” Payton emphasized when explaining his choice. The pair led Seattle to the 1996 NBA Finals, cementing their place among the era’s most dynamic duos.
At power forward, Payton went with Karl Malone, the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer when he retired. Though they only played together for the 2003-04 season on the Lakers, Payton recognized Malone’s dominance and production over his 19-year career.
The center position went to Shaquille O’Neal, which Payton described as an obvious selection. “I cannot not do Shaq. You know I can’t do that,” he stated emphatically. Payton played alongside O’Neal on both the Lakers and Heat, witnessing firsthand the big man’s unstoppable presence in the paint.
Payton’s All-Time Starting Five:
- PG: Gary Payton
- SG: Kobe Bryant
- SF: Shawn Kemp
- PF: Karl Malone
- C: Shaquille O’Neal
This lineup features five players who collectively earned:
- 16 NBA championships
- 53 All-Star selections
- 47 All-NBA team honors
- 23 All-Defensive team selections
- 5 MVP awards
The exclusion of Wade might surprise some basketball fans, particularly given Wade’s spectacular 2006 Finals performance when he and Payton won a championship together in Miami. Wade averaged 34.7 points per game in that series, delivering one of the most impressive Finals performances in NBA history.
However, Payton’s selections reflect both personal connections and his assessment of each player’s overall impact. His time with Kemp in Seattle created a special bond, while his admiration for Bryant’s skills and mentality clearly influenced his choice at shooting guard.
Each player in Payton’s lineup brought unique strengths to the court. Bryant’s scoring prowess and clutch performance, Kemp’s athleticism and power, Malone’s consistency and durability, and O’Neal’s sheer dominance make this theoretical lineup a formidable collection of talent.
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
