Former Lakers Star Accepts Shocking New Coaching Gig

Gary Payton, Sr, who spent the 2003-04 NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers took the next step in his coaching career and became the new head coach for the College of Alameda. A nine-time All-Star, one-time NBA champion, and former Defensive Player of the Year, Payton takes over at Alameda, a junior college near his hometown Oakland, California.

NBA News: Gary Payton Becomes Head Coach of College of Alameda

Payton has previously worked as the head coach at NAIA Lincoln University in Oakland. He has been working hard to give back to his community and hometown ever since his retirement from the NBA.

Alameda went 7-21 last season in the Bay Valley Conference and will try to improve under coach Payton's leadership. Payton recently won the BIG3 championship and the BIG3 Coach of the Year award.

In his playing days, Payton was one of the best defensive players in the league. Nicknamed, "The Glove", he could guard multiple positions on the floor, known most notably for being one of the best defenders to slow down Michael Jordan in his prime.

In the 2003 offseason, Payton joined the Los Angeles Lakers alongside Karl Malone to form a big four with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. Despite being 35 years old, Payton played every regular-season and playoff game that season. Unfortunately, that team came up short as they lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.

This signaled the end of the Kobe-Shaq era in Los Angeles as the Lakers decided to rebuild.

It wasn't until 2006 that Payton won his first and only NBA championship as a member of the Miami Heat.

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