Gary Payton has named his son and Jrue Holiday as two of his favourite defenders in the modern NBA.
Having made it to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, Payton is considered one of the greatest defenders in the NBA. His ability to guard multiple positions and strike fear in opponents with his trash talk were qualities that helped him become one of the pillars of the Seattle SuperSonics team in the 1990s.
He continues to stay close to the game with media appearances and is also seen at NBA games as his son, Gary Payton II, plays for the Golden State Warriors. In his recent appearance on The Association, Payton was asked about his favourite defenders in the league and his answers were, unsurprisingly, his son and another legendary guard.
Gary Payton names Jrue Holiday as one of his favourite NBA defenders, says he can guard one through five
Gary Payton was not going to hide the bias of being a father when asked who his favourite NBA defender is when asked by Robin Lopez. However, his reasoning is why many would believe his take to be true.
“I got to bring my son in here, I think he does a great job of what he does when he gets on the floor with the Golden State Warriors,” said Payton.
Although he does not have the accolades to match his father’s resume, Gary Payton II is one of the best perimeter guards in the NBA. He can guard all positions and is also effective at scoring from beyond the arc. The 33-year-old was part of the Warriors team that won the championship in 2022.
“I think he puts his foot into it and he locks down and he can guard all positions, I just love it as a guard, who can guard 94-feet,” Payton added.
Holiday has six All-Defensive selections to his name, which shows how brilliant he has been since his arrival in the league. Alongside his elite defensive skill, Holiday has made his mark as a top decision-maker in the league.
His leadership has helped him earn two championships, and he is currently leading a young Portland Trail Blazers side as they build a contender in the Western Conference. The team has players like Damian Lillard, Ja Morant and Deni Avdija, but what Holiday brings is his elite championship experience, which young players need to be surrounded by in their initial years.
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