"He Would Probably Just Foul Me Like His Son Do" - Gary Payton Talking Shit To Kevin Durant From The Crowd Is Why He's One Of The Greatest To Ever Do It

Noah Graham. Getty Images.

In the entire history of the NBA, there aren't too many players who you'd say were better at talking shit than Gary Payton. Guys like MJ, Bird, KG, Reggie Miller, The Glove, they were the best to ever do it while they were in the league, and sadly we don't really have that anymore in today's NBA. This isn't just screaming and yelling after a big play, this is completely dominating your opponent through psychological shit talking. Unleashing mental warfare to the point where you've rendered the opponent completely useless. That's what those group of legends used to do.

The best part about someone like Gary Payton is that even in retirement, this man LOVES to talk shit. He never backs down, he welcomes the back and forth and it doesn't matter who it is. Take for example his back and forth with KD during last night's Suns/Warriors game. The dude is in the crowd to watch his son play and he couldn't help himself. A true shit talker to his core

Now, there's always a risk that comes with chirping an All Time player like KD. At this point, KD was 3-10 from the floor when The Glove was chirping. After that moment? Durant went out and hit 3 straight 3 and essentially ended the game

I love the way he pointed right to Gary Payton to make it crystal clear that this was all his doing. That was perfect and the beauty of two legends chirping each other. Sometimes you run your mouth and the guy is good enough to give it right back to you, which at the end of the day is what it's all about. I also love the way Payton took it, just shaking his head and laughing because even he knows what he did. He knows that his love for shit talking may have gotten the best of him there, which happens from time to time. Like I said, this man loves talking shit and he's going to do it until his last breath, even in retirement.

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KD's response to the whole ordeal was also fantastic. If anyone respects the legends of old and appreciates a good back and forth and the love of competition it's KD, and his side of the story was great

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If I had a time machine, I would LOVE to see prime Glove vs Prime KD play. This dude, despite his height, was about as good as it gets on that end of the floor

and seeing as how KD is well on his way to ending his career Top 4 all time in points, this would have been an incredible battle between two former Sonics. It's a real shame nobody has invented a way to make that happen yet. I'm not a science guy, but I have watched several Marvel movies so don't tell me it's not possible. We, the people, deserve it