Former NBA star guard Gary Payton, who last played for the Miami Heat in 2007, believes the ’90s were the best era in the NBA:

“This era is about shooting threes, getting up and down, and entertainment. It is what it is … but I played in what I think was the best era ever. I think the ’90s was the best era ever.”

Gary Payton played 17 seasons for 5 teams, including the SuperSonics and Lakers. He averaged 16.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.9 rebounds in 1,335 regular-season games.

Payton was selected to play in 9 All-Star games. He won 1 Defensive Player of the Year award and 1 NBA championship. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.