There has been some minor discussion in places across the web about the possibility of GP coming back to the Sonics for a final tour before retiring. Either that isn't going to happen, or at least not this year.
MIAMI (Ticker) - Gary Payton chased an NBA title for a long time. Now that he has one, he will stay right where he is.
Payton re-signed with the defending champion Miami Heat on Wednesday, ending speculation regarding his future. Terms were not disclosed.
A future Hall of Famer, the 38-year-old Payton spent his first his first 12-plus seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and holds nearly every team record. But the nine-time All-Star has changed teams six times since.
In 1,267 games with Seattle, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami, Payton has averaged 16.9 points, 6.9 assists and 1.90 steals. Known as "The Glove" for his blanketing defense, he is a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection and was the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year.