Photo Credit: Anne Ryan, USA TODAY

Michael Jordan Laughs At Gary Payton Claiming His Defense On Him Made An Impact In 1996 NBA Finals

When you talk about the best defensive players in NBA history, Gary Payton, who earned his nickname ‘The Glove’ because of his pesky defense, should be right up there. Payton never backed down to anyone, not even to Michael Jordan who won ten scoring titles throughout his career.

Payton was always given the task to guard the opponent’s best offensive threat throughout his career; and one of the best marquee matchups was the one that featured him and Michael Jordan during the 1996 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Seattle Supersonics.

There were no signs of stopping the Bulls, who were one win away from winning the championship, but the Supersonics, in hopes to steal the series, changed their game-plan and put Payton on Jordan.

Although the Bulls eventually won the series in six games, the Sonics put up a fight and managed to steal games 4 and 5. 

During an interview about the series, Payton who was the catalyst of the defensive assignment, claimed that his defense took a toll on Jordan and caused the series to change. But upon showing the same interview on Jordan, the six-time NBA champion laughed and said he didn’t have any problems facing The Glove.

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