both have won defensive player of the year honors..
and both are tied with NBA record 9 time NBA all defensive first team...
im a big michael jordan fan..
jordan is the only guard to have recorded at least 200 steals and 100 blocks in a season.. it has never been duplicated not even gary payton..
but I have to pick Gary Payton over michael jordan...
why? he is complete package, great one on one defender and great team defender.. the only player in the NBA to limit michael jordan in the NBA finals in scoring to below 30 in a game.. he did it 5 times.. and MJ had a career low with 22 points in game 6 in the 1996 nba finals...
no guard has ever done that so far...........
he is probably the best defender....
for me mj is the second best nest to payton when comes to defense..