NBA players having a troubled time with the law is not a new issue. We recently saw how Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton’s situation ended. The documentary claimed that the league took away their power to present their story. The 1993 fifth overall pick also saw his career derailed by legal issues, which eventually cut short his tenure to 9 years. Even a legend like Gary Payton tried to help, but it was to no avail.
Isaiah Rider Jr., nicknamed J.R., hailed from Oakland, California, which is also the native place of the Glove. Rider was the fifth overall pick of the 1993 draft. The overall #1 pick was Chris Webber, and Penny Hardaway was #3. With his consistent ability to score and explosive athleticism, he was a very popular choice. He did not disappoint in his rookie season and bagged First Team Rookie honors. But off-court incidents piled up: bar fights, d— arrests, and more.
That’s why Gary Payton revealed his advice to the former NBA champion. “He always would come to us, and I would just tell J that, ‘You just got to think about what you’re doing. You’re a little different now, you’re a different person. You’re in a different mindset of things that you need to do.‘” Despite Payton’s counsel, Rider failed to heed the warning. Payton pointed out that it was also the responsibility of the people close to him to direct his life away from street violence.
That led to alleged accusations of d— use and assault. In 2007, he was sentenced to seven months in jail after pleading guilty to c—— possession, evading the police, and battery. Gary Payton recalled that the unstable home and friendships also drove Rider away from the NBA. “But J never had like the dad I had. And then you got to go to the people that you hang out with too… He would always tell me, ‘Man, get up out of here. Stuff about to happen or whatever going to happen, whatever going to do, get out or whatever.‘”
For Rider, it was not a case of strong friendship. During a conversation with Yahoo Sports, the former NBA star expressed his sadness. “It was the ultimate low point of my life […] There were no visitors. No one down for me. No letters. I had fake friends. They left me for dead.”Rider was just 12 when his father left him and the family.
Why Payton escaped the pitfalls that did in Rider
Even recently and previously, too, the former Oklahoma City Thunder star speaks openly of his lifelong association with East Oakland d— dealers. “I probably know every dealer in Oakland.” The 9x All-Star had a problem embracing the human side and vigilantly stayed away from their lifestyle to deal with people. Apart from the street habits, Gary Payton was inclined towards reading books. Also, his career on the court was the stability he was looking for.
10/17/2003 New Laker point guard Gary Payton before a preseason game between Phoenix Suns and Lakers. (Photo by George Wilhelm/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Apparently, that’s the message he not only tried giving to Rider but also to youngsters at the East Oakland Development Youth Center. It was never a one-time visit but a constant reminder for Payton to make youngsters aware of the adverse use of substances. The former NBA champion was proud of his work. “I made a big impact on the kids here, I guess,” Payton says, tooling his BMW off the Skyline campus. “So I come back as often as I can.”
A similar circumstance, but a constant opposite outcome. One reason that Payton stated was that of a perennial father figure, which Al Payton was. His coaching in the summers in the Oakland Neighborhood Basketball League dubbed him “Mr. Mean.” But his old-school parenting style is what his son is thankful for.
The post Having Spent 7 Months in Jail, Ex-NBA Star’s Worrisome State Triggered Gary Payton’s Careful Warning appeared first on EssentiallySports.