In the NBA, sometimes rivalry defines the relationships between players, especially for one of the fiercest competitors in the game, like Gary Payton . However, "The Glove" confided that the 1996 Atlanta Olympics presented a unique opportunity to change those relationships.
As one of the elite players chosen to represent Team USA on the international stage, Payton found himself alongside some of his greatest rivals, forming friendships that transcended the heated competition of the NBA. For GP, it was something he never expected but was grateful for.
"The best moments that I ever had is everyday going to our Courtesy Room and I'm just seeing John Stockton right there, Karl Malone right here, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, the guys that I always played against and I went to battle against and never liked, but I got a chance to be with them for three months and learn who they were, what kind of people they were and we got really tight," Payton told USA Basketball in 2020.
Gary also bonded with the best female players in the game
Admittedly, Payton is thrilled about how the shared purpose of bringing home the gold medal for their country resulted in long-lasting friendships with his NBA foes. But apart from that, "The Glove" also feels fortunate to have bonded with the underrated yet thriving WNBA stars who also represented Team USA that year.
Reflecting on it, Payton reckoned that the '96 Olympic experience allowed him to see his rivals in a new light and also recognize the admirable existence of female players in the sport.
"And plus, being in the rooms with all the women basketball players, women's basketball wasn't as big as it was, they were trying to make it, the WNBA was trying to make it, and we didn't know these women either, but they were great people too, " he remembered.
" And we got to know them so good that we all became a family and then all our families were there, our kids were small and little, they got to grow with each other and then everybody got to know each other again," the nine-time NBA All-Defensive team member added.
'The Glove' ran the offense for Team USA
Throughout the tournament, Payton served as Team USA's floor general. He led the star-studded squad in assists per game with 4.5, showcasing his incredible playmaking skills every outing.
While his performances and Team USA's dominance in the '96 Olympics were milestones in Payton's career, he also recognizes that the off-the-court connections they built during that stretch made the entire experience unforgettable.
Related: "I will give you something, and it's going to be this jumper" - Gary Payton remembers being schooled by Larry Bird in their first matchup
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