OLYMPICS 19 DAYS TO THE GAMES : Payton Officially Becomes Team Member

Seattle SuperSonic guard Gary Payton was selected for the U.S. Olympic basketball team Saturday in Colorado Springs, replacing Glenn Robinson, who has an injured Achilles’ tendon.

Payton, the NBA’s defensive player of the year and a three-time all-star, helped the SuperSonics to a 64-18 record and into the NBA finals, where they were beaten by the Chicago Bulls in six games. He averaged 19.3 points in the regular season, led the league in steals with a 2.85 average and ranked 10th in assists with 7.5 per game.

Previously announced to the Dream Team were Charles Barkley, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Scottie Pippen, Mitch Richmond, David Robinson and John Stockton.