This is very close, I could really go either way. Both were excellent defenders and passer, Payton was more of a scorer while Stockton had his shooting game come to him and was known to be gunshy and pass up open shots, Payton was a better defender, but Stockton is also the alltime leader in steals. Who is better?
no. Stockton is the all-time steals and assists leader, Gary was just a DPY. John is much better. you overrate GP. You even said he deserved first team all defense this year.
Gary Payton is known primarily for his defence, whereas John Stockton is the NBA's All Time steals leader. While Stocken is not close to the one on one defender GP is, he is a superior off ball defender, and changed games more than GP on the defensive end. Stockton is also the NBA's all time assist leader, and is a superioir passer to Gary Payton. In other words, Stockton was a comparable defensive player, superioir passer, and hit numerous clutch buckets in his career. Stockton also won more than Gary Payton, reaching the Finals twice in his career to Payton's once. Payton was also known for being selfish at times, and chicking in the clutch. There really is no comparison
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart @ Mar 6 2006, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Gary Payton is known primarily for his defence, whereas John Stockton is the NBA's All Time steals leader. While Stocken is not close to the one on one defender GP is, he is a superior off ball defender, and changed games more than GP on the defensive end. Stockton is also the NBA's all time assist leader, and is a superioir passer to Gary Payton. In other words, Stockton was a comparable defensive player, superioir passer, and hit numerous clutch buckets in his career. Stockton also won more than Gary Payton, reaching the Finals twice in his career to Payton's once. Payton was also known for being selfish at times, and chicking in the clutch. There really is no comparison</div>Actually they both made the finals twice, but neither of them won anything so you can't say either is a winner.
Gary Patyon got some All-D 1st teams he didn't deserve later in his career and lived off his reputaton the last few years. Great player i'd just rather have Stockton leading my team.
If you really wanna compare leadership, Gary Payton took a team with no depth with Shawn kemp as his best player(a player who never scored more then 20 ppg) and played MJ better then anyone had since the Pistons of the late 80s while Stockton made the finals twice with the greatest pf of alltime(Karl malone) and came up short,The Bulls dominated them so bad one game that they held the Jazz to under 40 points, and MJ dropped 60 on Stockton also, they only went that far from Malone dominating Dennis Rodman not Stocktons amazing play. Payton was also a good passer, averaging around 8-9 assists for his prime, and a much better ''scorer'', as he could take it to the line and was a constant 20 PPG scorer,also Stockton would often pass up an open 3 point shot which may be a huge reason he never won a ring, Payton had that competitive spirit that few players have ever had like MJ,Magic,Shaq,Hakeem,and Duncan who just light fire in the playoffs. as far as his defensive awards go he deserved each of them throughout his 6 straight 1st teams. He could even make an arguement this season at least by how he's playing although a bench player will never make an all-team of anything.
I like watching Payton more than stockton, but Stockton, statistically, was better than Payton.....plus he had short-shorts.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>He could even make an arguement this season at least by how he's playing although a bench player will never make an all-team of anything.</div>He's done nothing to make all team defense this year. Who has he shut down this year?<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Gary Payton took a team with no depth with Shawn kemp as his best player(a player who never scored more then 20 ppg) and played MJ better then anyone had since the Pistons of the late 80s while Stockton made the finals twice with the greatest pf of alltime(Karl malone) and came up short,The Bulls dominated them so bad one game that they held the Jazz to under 40 points, and MJ dropped 60 on Stockton also</div>Neither team beat the Bulls, so your point is moot. Also, when did Jazz put Stockton on MJ? And Kemp is what Amare Stoudemire is today. Not a bad sidekick to have. If he kept his head on straight, no saying what he could have been.
