Will Gary Payton be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?

Gary Payton isn’t taking for granted he will be first-ballot Hall of Famer. But let’s just say he’s ready if it happens.
 
Payton already knows who his Hall of Famer presenters will be whenever he might be enshrined.
 
“I would name two of them, John Stockton and George Gervin,’’ Payton said in a phone interview with FOX Sports Florida. "John Stockton is someone that I respect and was the toughest basketball player I played (against). George Gervin, because I admired him ever since I was (growing up). Those are guys that I respect a lot.’’
 
Payton, who played the final two of his 17 NBA seasons with Miami, retired in 2007 and is now eligible for induction after the required five-year waiting period. Finalists will be announced Feb. 15 during the NBA’s All-Star Weekend in Houston and the class of 2013 revealed April 8 at the Final Four in Atlanta.
 
The point guard, who had his greatest years in Seattle from 1990-2003, was a nine-time All-Star who averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 assists. Nicknamed “The Glove,’’ Payton was the 1995-96 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, made the All-NBA Defensive first team nine times and nine times made the All-NBA first, second or third team.
 
“It’s a big honor for me just to be mentioned to be going into the Hall of Fame,’’ Payton said. “Being a kid coming out of Oakland, California, I was just trying to make the NBA… It’s up to the voters (whether Payton makes it in his first year of eligibility). My numbers are there. I did everything that I had to do.
 
“I wouldn’t be disappointed (if not a first-ballot choice). If it doesn’t happen (in 2013), then I’ll come back (in 2014 for eligibility). They don’t give you any extra credit for getting in in your first year. But I got the numbers (for it).’’
 
Payton would become the first man ever to play for the Heat to make the Hall of Fame. Even though he averaged just 6.6 points and 3.1 assists in his two Miami seasons, it still was a special time considering Payton won his only NBA title there in 2006.
 
“That would be great if that were to happen,’’ Payton, who lost in the Finals with Seattle in 1996 and with the Lakers in 2004, said of being the first Miami inductee. “The Heat is always special to me because of Pat Riley (the Heat president and Payton’s coach during his final 1 ½ Miami seasons). He helped me to get a special moment.’’
 
But don’t be offended, Heat fans, that Payton didn’t rule out one day selling a championship ring he won in Miami. The topic came up after Payton was asked about legendary Oscar Robertson having put his 1964 NBA MVP trophy up for auction.
 
“I got two rings made,’’ Payton said of 2006. “I got one made to wear and one made to sit in a safe deposit box…. The only thing that is sentimental to me is that I won a championship (rather than anything material). I don’t know (about ever selling a title ring). I might. It doesn’t matter. I would never put nothing out because I never say never. If people come to you and want to buy your All-Star jersey for $100,000, some people will sell it.’’
 
Payton might not have been an All-Star in Miami. But his Heat teammates remember him fondly.
 
“There’s no way we consider ourselves champions if he doesn’t hit that shot down the stretch against Dallas,’’ said forward Udonis Haslem, who, along with guard Dwyane Wade, is one of two Heat players remaining from the 2006 title team. “He had a big part to do with us being champs.’’
 
After trailing 2-0 to the Mavericks and down by 13 points with six minutes left in Game 3, Miami made a stirring comeback. Payton scored the decisive points on a long jumper with 9.3 seconds remaining in a 98-86 Heat win, and they eventually won the series 4-2.
 
When the 6-foot-4 Payton arrived in Miami, he was 37. He took the 6-4 Wade, then a third-year man and 23, under his wing.
 
“I believe so,’’ Wade said Payton being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. “What he did in his career was unbelievable. He was 20 (points) and 10 (assists) his whole career. You can’t forget that. Hopefully, he gets in the first time. He was a guy who was about my same height, and I looked up at him when I was growing up.’’
 
Payton, now 44, still calls Wade, 30, his “little brother.’’ He was thrilled to see him last season win another championship.
 
The Heat beat the Oklahoma City 4-1 in the Finals, the Thunder being the team that had bolted Payton’s beloved Seattle in 2008. Now, Payton is playing a role in trying to bring an NBA team back to Seattle.
 
Payton is working with investor Chris Hansen, a Seattle native, on what will happen when a new arena is expected to be in place for the 2015-16 season. While Payton didn’t deny the Sacramento Kings are a candidate to move to Seattle, he said other teams, which he wouldn’t name, also are in the mix.
 
“It looks like it’s going be back there,’’ a confident Payton said about the NBA returning to Seattle and figuring to take back the SuperSonics name. “We got a plan for the arena... A lot of teams in the NBA are up for sale. A lot of teams that people don’t know. But you have to wait for the right situation and the right opportunity. We’re open to anything. We’re not just (focusing on) Sacramento. We’re looking at a lot of other options.’’

If a team does return to Seattle, Payton is hopeful the new franchise would retire his No. 20. By that time, the team also could hang a Payton Hall of Fame banner.
 
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson