Shawn Kemp unsurprisingly has a ton of unforgettable moments with his former Seattle Supersonics co-star Gary Payton. Among them was the time “The Glove” provoked Michael Jordan during a preseason game with his savage trash-talking skills.

Kemp was well aware that it was a risky move, considering Payton was a rookie at the time. As expected, the Chicago Bulls star did not take kindly to the taunting and made sure to make Gary pay the price. In the end, the experience served as a valuable lesson for the brash rookie, but despite the consequences GP faced that day, his competitiveness and fearlessness did not go unnoticed by his teammates, especially Kemp

For “The Reign Man,” Payton’s courage and willingness to challenge even the greatest player on the planet was a significant moment for the Sonics.

“There’s a story Gary tells about a preseason game where he called out Michael Jordan, and MJ embarrassed him. I remember that” Kemp wrote in a piece for The Players’ Tribune in 2018. “I think for the rest of the team, when we saw Gary step up and get in MJ’s face, it was like … it was symbolic. It was a big sign. A kid picking a fight with the schoolyard bully.”

Shawn Kemp on rookie Gary Payton getting in Michael Jordan's face - Basketball Network - Your daily dose of basketball

It toughened the Sonics

For a rookie, Payton proved that he wasn’t intimidated by anybody, not even Jordan and his reputation. Payton’s confidence and resilience had a ripple and long-term effect on the rest of the Sonics team. As Kemp reflected on it, he and the rest of the Sonics drew strength from Gary’s bold display of relentlessness.

Kemp believes taunting the GOAT marked a turning point for Payton, who went on to become one of the most tenacious and respected two-way players in NBA history. As for the Sonics, what “The Glove” did motivated them to play with a newfound determination and unity.

Looking back, Shawn revealed that GP, despite being an NBA newcomer, laid the groundwork for the Sonics’ hard-nosed and combative style of play.

Michael Jordan Goes Full Supervillain Watching Gary, 40% OFF

“So, when we saw how fearless Gary was with Michael, we’d encourage it,” Kemp confessed. “We’d all get in his ear, tell him to keep it up, not to back down. Gary gave us all that grit and that fight that Seattle had for a lot of years there. After a while, we sort of got a reputation. Seattle was physical. We were gonna run our mouth. No matter if we were winning or losing, those Sonics teams were special because we always thought we had a fighting chance.”