Golden State guard Gary Payton II joined an exclusive club Thursday night as the sixth former Oregon State Beaver to win an NBA title.
Payton II joins his father, guard Gary Payton, forward Mel Counts, A.C. Green, Lonnie Shelton and Brent Barry as NBA champion Beavers.
Payton II is the first OSU player to win an NBA title since Barry won his second with San Antonio in 2007. Barry also played on the Spurs’ 2005 championship team.
A.C. Green has the most NBA titles with three. Green played on the Los Angeles Lakers’ championship teams in 1987 and 1988, then added a third a dozen years later in 2000.
Count was the first, as he played for Boston when the Celtics won championships in 1965 and 1966.
Gary Payton won his lone professional title toward the end of his playing career, playing on Miami’s 2006 title team.
Shelton was a member of Seattle’s only NBA champion when the Sonics won in 1979.
In addition, Payton II is the first player of OSU coach Wayne Tinkle’s 16-year career with an NBA championship. Tinkle coached eight years each at Montana and Oregon State.
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel