Search

    Select Website Language

    GDPR Compliance

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

    Gary Payton added another trophy to his legendary career over the weekend as his Boston Ball Hogs captured the 2026 BIG3 Championship at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. Payton navigated his squad through a 10-week season to secure the title in Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 basketball league.

    The championship victory marks another major milestone in Payton’s storied basketball legacy, proving that his elite leadership and competitive drive translate seamlessly from the hardwood to the coaching box.

    By guiding the Boston Ball Hogs to the top of the league, “The Glove” cemented his status as one of the most versatile and impactful figures in modern basketball culture.

    The Legendary Playing Career of “The Glove”

    Long before stepping onto the sideline in the BIG3, Payton established himself as one of the most ferocious point guards in basketball history. Selected second overall in the 1990 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, he spent 13 seasons in Seattle where he became the franchise leader in points, assists and steals.

    Alongside Shawn Kemp, Payton anchored the SuperSonics during their dominant run in the 1990s, culminating in a 1996 NBA Finals appearance. That same season, Payton became the first point guard in NBA history to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, earning the iconic nickname “The Glove” for his lockdown perimeter defense.

    A nine-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection, nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Payton eventually achieved NBA championship glory with the Miami Heat in 2006. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

    Ice Cube Praises Payton’s Dedication to the BIG3

    BIG3 CEO and founder Ice Cube reflected on Payton’s commitment to the league since its inception, noting that Payton bought into the vision before the league even possessed an official logo.

    “Before we even had the BIG3 logo, Gary said he wanted to be a part of it,”  Ice Cube stated.

    “Always showing up, always a part of it. Always got his head in the game. Not taking this for granted or looking at it as something other than the best professional 3-on-3 league in the world.”

    Gary Payton on Coaching and Building Trust

    Prior to his success in professional 3-on-3 basketball, Payton built a foundation on the sidelines through collegiate coaching. He served three seasons as the head coach at Lincoln University in Oakland before transitioning to lead the men’s basketball program at the College of Alameda. His inaugural professional sports coaching opportunity arrived in 2017 when he joined the BIG3, managing franchises like the 3 Headed Monsters and Bivouac before taking over the Boston Ball Hogs.

    Reflecting on his transition from an elite player to a championship head coach, Payton highlighted the core difference between controlling the game on the floor and guiding a team from the bench.

    “As a player, you have a lot of control of what you’re doing,” Payton said during the post-game press conference. 

    “As a coach, I have to make these players believe in me and believe in yourselves. And they got to believe in themselves and they got to come out and play for you. If you ask all five of these guys up here… after the game, both of them, all of them said, ‘I’ll run through a wall for you, Coach.’ And that… that makes a statement for what we’re doing.”

    Payton emphasized that his coaching style is rooted in tough love and mutual respect.

    “I got players that—I don’t care, I cuss them,” Payton explained. “They’re old, but shit, they were… in my kids’ age too. But that’s how it goes. But they respect me enough to let me talk to them like that. They know I’m coming from a… a good place in my heart. I come from a place that makes them want to be better and better.”

    Payton specifically highlighted player management, pointing to Garlon Green and Quincy Miller as key examples of role clarity and trust within his squad.

    “As Bar-Co said here, they wrote him off, but I let him be him,” Payton said. “I don’t put any restrictions on him, I don’t do any of that. I got confidence in him and him making big shots. Quincy Miller down there, he wasn’t playing as much, but his biggest role is that he stays on the bench and he motivates everybody who’s on there, on the floor, and gives them confidence. So everybody knows their role.”

    He summarized his philosophy by highlighting the element of trust: “As a player, you can control it because you got the ball in your hand. As a coach, I got to… I got to be trustworthy in the players that I got. And these are why I picked these guys, because I’m trusting in them. And the trust was here, and we see what we did after 10 weeks. We’re now BIG3, we’re BIG3 champions in 2026.”

    Reflections on History, Brotherhood and NBA Dynamics

    In a one-on-one interview with ScoopB.com following the press conference, Payton reflected on his journey, his bond with Ice Cube, the passing of NBA coaching legend Don Nelson, potential Seattle expansion and LeBron James joining Philadelphia.

    WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH GARY PAYTON & SCOOP B HERE!

    Ice Cube pioneered gangsta rap as a core member of N.W.A before building a massive solo music career with seminal albums like AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and The Predator. He seamlessly transitioned into a Hollywood heavyweight as an actor, writer and producer across iconic movie franchises like Boyz n the Hood, Friday, Barbershop and Ride Along. Paired with Payton’s storied Hall of Fame basketball legacy in Seattle, both cultural icons share a bond born out of dominating their respective industries during the 1990s.

    When asked about his long-standing connection with Ice Cube, Payton recalled meeting him during his early Sonics days in the 1990s.

    “I met Ice Cube in the early ’90s,” Payton shared. “Coming to The Forum, LA, being on the road. And then he was singing about the Seattle SuperSonics playing the Lakers and stuff like that. It was one of those things where as soon as I met him, it was great. And then he started to do the Mount Westmore with Shorty and Short, and then I was around him a lot because of my brothers. So we have been around each other a lot. I go to a lot of his concerts and we have a brotherhood. He can pick up the phone anytime and call me, I can pick up the phone and call him at any time. So it’s always been a brotherhood.”

    Don Nelson was one of the most revolutionary figures in basketball history, winning 1,335 games as an NBA head coach and three Coach of the Year awards. Recognized as the pioneer of fast-paced “Nellie Ball,” “small ball” and the “point forward” concept, Nelson engineered legendary eras with the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors. Nelson helmed Payton’s hometown Golden State Warriors during the high-octane “Run TMC” era in Oakland while Payton was establishing his own dominance in Seattle. The two regularly squared off in fierce Western Conference showdowns throughout the 1990s.

    Payton also paid tribute to former Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks head coach Don Nelson, who passed away.

    “I knew Don well,” Payton said.

    “I competed against him a lot. He had them Golden State teams, the Dallas teams. It was a big disappointment to me to find out he passed away a week ago. I couldn’t get to go to the funeral. I was travelling. But I sent my regards to his family. It was always a pleasure to go against Don Nelson because I know he’s a great coach.”

    Potential Return of the Seattle SuperSonics

    Seattle has remained a prime location for future NBA expansion, with momentum building as the league targets finalizing decisions regarding new franchises. The desire to bring the NBA back to the Pacific Northwest has united city leadership, fans and former legends who feel the town has missed its franchise since its departure in 2008.

    Addressing rumors surrounding Seattle NBA expansion and Ken Griffey Jr.’s potential interest in ownership, Payton expressed strong enthusiasm for bringing basketball back to the Pacific Northwest.

    “Yeah. Me and Ken are real tight,” Payton said. “That’s like my brother, too. Remember, we were in the same era in the ’90s together playing when he was with the Mariners and I was with the Sonics. We’ll talk about all that. We got a good group that’s coming along. First, we’re going to just try to do what we have to do and get it there first. And once it gets there, then we’ll talk about who’s going to be a part of it, who’s not going to be a part of it. But our group is going to be great. And we’re just trying to get them back.”

    In an exclusive interview with ScoopB.com a few months back, Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II expressed his strong desire to suit up for the franchise where his father became an icon, stating: “I would probably request a trade immediately! Even though I love where I’m at, it’s about being able to throw on that Sonics jersey before my career is over. I really hope they end up getting that done so I can go hoop for the hometown one time.”

    Payton Sr. echoed those sentiments, noting that his son, Gary Payton II, along with Kevin Durant, would be prime targets to join a restored Seattle franchise.

    “Oh, he’ll be there. He’ll be there,” Payton said regarding his son. “No problem. I know that him and Durant, we know we’re going to try to get them back. Hopefully, they’ll be free agents at the time, and then we can bring them back. Durant only got to play there for a year. My son was born and raised there. So that’ll be good for him. They’ll still be in their prime in a year or two, so we’re just going to try to get it going.”

    LeBron James Operating as a Playmaker in Philadelphia

    Finally, Payton weighed in on the tactical fit of LeBron James joining the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. The move has ignited league-wide discussion regarding how James will balance ball-handling responsibilities in a lineup packed with elite scoring threats.

    Earlier this week, NBA legend Magic Johnson broke down LeBron’s playmaking role on that team during an interview with ScoopB.com. Johnson dismissed dynamic chemistry concerns, explaining that LeBron’s court vision makes the transition seamless.

    “Well, it’s going to be easy when you’re a playmaker, you know,”Magic Johnson told ScoopB.com.

    “He gets everybody involved in the game, he gets people easy buckets and shots. When you think about Maxey, Embiid… all those guys, now Jaylen Brown. One thing that he knows how to do is also bring everybody together.”

    Payton echoed those thoughts on LeBron’s fit as an orchestrator, emphasizing that the 20-time All-Star will adjust by letting the game flow through the team’s talent while stepping into a veteran leadership role.

    “It’s a big adjustment, but I think that’s the coaches’ job to do that,” Payton analyzed. “I don’t think they’re going to be playing together a lot. I think it’s going to be two of them playing with each other, and the other two playing with each other. But I think LeBron is in his career and his age right now that he can adjust. I think they’re still going to put the ball in his hand and go downhill. They’re going to go through Embiid if he’s healthy. Maxey is starting to be that star. You got Jaylen Brown, but I think what LeBron brings is, he brings the older statesman. They’re going to respect him enough to give him the basketball, put him in a lot of stuff, and they’re going to watch it. And I think that’s going to be good.”

    With the offseason acquisitions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers have surged into title-favorite status alongside powerhouse contenders like the reigning champion New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder.

    When asked if Philadelphia could win a title in Year 1, Payton remained pragmatic. “I can’t predict that,” Payton concluded.

    “I don’t know how he’s going to do. We don’t know who’s going to be healthy. We don’t know what’s going to happen. If they all play together, and they stay together, and they gel. But I think that’s what it brought with LeBron back. LeBron has now been in there, working out with them—all of them. They’ve been working together for the last month or so since he announced it, and that’s the thing he’s building. He’s building trust, and he’s building a brotherhood, and that’s what he does.”

    Make Sure To Check Out The Full Interview with Gary Payton & Scoop B Here!

    Previous Article
    Taiwo Hassan Ogogo: 10 things you may not know about late Nollywood actor
    Next Article
    Gary Payton on Bringing Back the Seattle SuperSonics, Ken Griffey Jr., & Ice Cube | Scoop B

    Related Sports Updates:

    Are you sure? You want to delete this comment..! Remove Cancel

    Comments (0)

      Leave a comment