Almost two decades after Shaquille O’Neal won his fourth ring with Gary Payton, he is working with Payton’s protege at TNT. Now Jamal Crawford stopped by The Big Podcast to talk about Payton’s unusual motivational tactics. It’s thanks to The Glove that Crawford went from college star to 3x NBA 6MOY to a regular spot on TNT alongside Shaq. For Jamal Crawford, it all started with an absurd bet with Gary Payton.

When Adam Lefkoe asked if he had a story about an NBA veteran motivating him, J Crossover recalled the time Payton dropped by his school in Seattle. The Rainier Beach High star was already making a name for himself and was noticed by the NBA champion. Fresh off his 2006 championship with the Miami Heat, Payton showed up in the cafeteria where Crawford was with a friend who happened to be Payton’s nephew.

Seemingly unprompted, The Glove started provoking the teens. Jamal Crawford imitated him pointing at each kid and challenging them. He gets louder as the crowd gathers which Shaq confirmed is true to Payton’s personality. When he reached a teen Crawford, Payton proclaimed, “we going to play one-on-one, if you beat me I give you a million dollars.” But the consequences of losing to him would be worse. “if I beat you I want you to walk around naked in your neighborhood,” Crawford recalled Payton’s challenge.

To Shaq and Lefkoe’s disappointment, they never played that match. So it’s undecided if Crawford had to embarrass himself in his neighborhood or won a million dollars. He did however clarify that Payton offered a real million dollars unlike O’Neal giving him Shaqbucks. Too bad for Crawford, Shaq and Gary Paton don’t go through with their million-dollar bets.

Jamal Crawford keeps Gary Payton’s tradition going

That was Crawford’s very first meeting with Gary Payton. He was ready to take on the bizarre challenge and rightfully win $1 million. However, instead off playing 1vs1, Payton took Crawford under his wing.

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Both Crawford and Payton have narrated a few times before that Jamal moved in with the NBA star for a year when he went to school in Michigan. He absorbed all the NBA-honed knowledge from the legend and credits him for making him one of the best ball-handlers in the league.

“This is the experience of GP,” Crawford told Shaquille O’Neal. “Like a big brother.” Crawford has since paid it forward mentoring many other younger players like Jayson Tatum.

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