Payton Honored For Defensive Play

The Seattle Sonics’ Gary Payton was a landslide winner of the NBA’s defensive player of the year award, it was announced on Monday.

Payton, 27, nicknamed “The Glove,” received 56 of a possible 113 votes, easily outdistancing runner-up Scottie Pippen of Chicago, who totaled 15 votes.

“In high school, I was offensive minded,” Payton told a news conference. “I liked George Gervin a lot and you know he didn’t play no D. He didn’t play no D at all.”

At Oregon State, coach Ralph Miller convinced the 6-foot-4 point guard he could be an outstanding defensive player as well as a top offensive player, who averaged 25.7 points as a college senior.

After the Sonics made Payton the second pick in the 1990 NBA draft, he found out quickly about Alvin Robertson, another 6-4 guard and then a six-year veteran with Milwaukee.

“When I faced him for the first time in my pro career, I threw the ball up the court and he jumped in the middle of the air and grabbed it,” Payton said. “I said, ‘Hey, I’m going to be like him. I’m going to imitate him a lot.’ That’s what I’ve been trying to do the last couple of years.”

Ailing Bulls take it easy

It came as no surprise that the Chicago Bulls held a light workout.

Michael Jordan has a sore back. Luc Longley has tendinitis in his knees. Pippen has been nursing nagging injuries for several months. And four of Chicago’s five starters are at least 31 years old.

Jordan bolted practice without talking to the media, leaving coach Phil Jackson to give the daily report on Jordan’s health.

“Michael and Luc Longley specifically had the day off,” Jackson said. “They came out on the court a little bit and watched what we were doing. We feel very confident that Michael’s back is feeling good.”

Walker headed for NBA

Rick Pitino isn’t happy about Antoine Walker leaving the Kentucky basketball program early, yet he supports the decision.

Walker announced he would forgo his last two years of college eligibility and enter the NBA draft. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season.

“Whatever he wants to do is great with me,” Pitino said. “It’s not up to me to agree or disagree. It’s up to me to point out all the options so he can make an intelligent decision.”

Vaughn to stay in college

Befitting an honor student, Jacque Vaughn quoted poetry to explain why he’s passing up the NBA draft to stay at Kansas for his senior year.

“I feel that God put me in a position when I came here to be a different and unique individual setting a standard,” the slick point guard told a news conference Monday.

“As Robert Frost said, ‘To take a path less traveled.’ I think I’m doing that.”

The Big Eight player of the year, known more for leadership and ball-handling than offensive skills, Vaughn said he did not decide “100 percent” until Sunday night.

Villanova lands Thomas

Tim Thomas, rated the nation’s second-best high school basketball player by one publication, ended months of soul searching and said he plans to attend Villanova.

The long-awaited decision was announced, with Villanova winning out over Big East rival, Seton Hall.

Thomas, a 6-foot-10 forward, said the opportunity to play small forward rather than power forward or center was a major consideration in his decision, because he hopes to play small forward in the NBA.