Gary Payton: Then I began taking part in, and I began feeling higher and higher. We had been down an excessive amount of within the sequence, and I simply began saying: “Let me guard him.” And he [Jordan] was averaging 33 factors on the time. Then I began changing into a pest for him. I introduced it right down to 23 factors. And what do coaches do once they have an issue? They attempt to clear up it. Jordan was beginning to take it personally with me, which is what I needed to occur. Then Phil Jackson mentioned, “Nah, let me put someone larger on him and distract him—make it an issue.” And he put Scottie Pippen on me. Pippen is an even bigger participant than me—he’s 6’7″, he’s cellular. And it began taking a toll on me— Making an attempt to attain and guard Jordan on the identical time—it took a toll. -via YouTube / Could 23, 2025
