Shawn Kemp unsurprisingly has a ton of unforgettable moments with his former Seattle Supersonics co-star Gary Payton . Among them was the time "The Glove" provoked Michael Jordan during a preseason game with his savage trash-talking skills.
Kemp was well aware that it was a risky move, considering Payton was a rookie at the time. As expected, the Chicago Bulls star did not take kindly to the taunting and made sure to make Gary pay the price. In the end, the experience served as a valuable lesson for the brash rookie, but despite the consequences GP faced that day, his competitiveness and fearlessness did not go unnoticed by his teammates, especially Kemp.
For "The Reign Man," Payton's courage and willingness to challenge even the greatest player on the planet was a significant moment for the Sonics.
"There’s a story Gary tells about a preseason game where he called out Michael Jordan, and MJ embarrassed him. I remember that" Kemp wrote in a piece for The Players' Tribune in 2018. "I think for the rest of the team, when we saw Gary step up and get in MJ’s face, it was like … it was symbolic. It was a big sign. A kid picking a fight with the schoolyard bully."
It toughened the Sonics
For a rookie, Payton proved that he wasn't intimidated by anybody, not even Jordan and his reputation. Payton's confidence and resilience had a ripple and long-term effect on the rest of the Sonics team. As Kemp reflected on it, he and the rest of the Sonics drew strength from Gary's bold display of relentlessness.
Kemp believes taunting the GOAT marked a turning point for Payton, who went on to become one of the most tenacious and respected two-way players in NBA history. As for the Sonics, what "The Glove" did motivated them to play with a newfound determination and unity.
Looking back, Shawn revealed that GP, despite being an NBA newcomer, laid the groundwork for the Sonics' hard-nosed and combative style of play.
"So, when we saw how fearless Gary was with Michael, we'd encourage it," Kemp confessed. "We’d all get in his ear, tell him to keep it up, not to back down. Gary gave us all that grit and that fight that Seattle had for a lot of years there. After a while, we sort of got a reputation. Seattle was physical. We were gonna run our mouth. No matter if we were winning or losing, those Sonics teams were special because we always thought we had a fighting chance."
"That was Gary’s rookie moment, and it’s not even so bad. Michael was Michael," he continued.
Payton's attitude was a key factor in the Sonics' success
True to form, Payton carried himself with oozing confidence that some perceived as arrogance. However, Kemp saw this aspect of Gary's character as a driving force behind the Sonics competitive spirit.
Kemp's acknowledgment of GP's flamboyance as a positive attribute speaks to the complex nature of "The Glove's" true qualities as a player. For their rivals, Kemp said Payton was a headache, but for Seattle, it played a crucial role in propelling the team to success.
"As Gary settled in, everyone saw how lucky we were to have him — and to not have to play against him. Gary barking at everyone in practice motivated us. Made us better. He was a problem, but he was our problem," Kemp concluded.
Payton knew he gave MJ the business
As most NBA fans witnessed, Jordan dominated the league for the better part of the 90s. In the Bulls' most dominant season in 1996, they faced Payton and the Sonics in the Finals.
The Bulls prevailed, but Gary believes his unbreakable grit and defensive skills frustrated Jordan throughout that series. In GP's assessment of his performance that year, it earned him a reputation as one of the few players who could truly match up against "His Airness."
However, Jordan refused to acknowledge that when it was tackled in The Last Dance. For Payton, MJ's reaction was totally understandable , as every highly competitive player would hardly admit to being challenged by any of their rivals.
"He wouldn't be Michael Jordan if he would have bowed down there," Payton once said . "Everybody knows about his competitiveness. He was a guy who came every night to play. I respect him for that because I came every night to play. I was never gonna back down to him, and he knew that. If it was my documentary and they asked me the same thing, I would have laughed too and been like, 'No, he couldn't go at me, either.'"
In retrospect, Payton's daring move against Jordan during his rookie year reminds us that courage and determination are essential qualities of true toughness in the NBA. Many may not have been thrilled by GP's demeanor and antics back then, but for Kemp and the Sonics, it was exactly what they needed to become a great team.
Related: "Just didn't feel comfortable being able to criticize or support older guys" - Nate McMillan thinks Gary Payton drew inspiration from MJ
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