In the coming weeks and months, this area will evolve into a place where Jason can share his thoughts about the game of basketball and the world beyond. It will host blog entries, podcasts, fan questions, and more.

To launch the section, though, we're going to talk about Jason's relationship with former point guard great, NBA champion and sure-fire Hall of Famer, Gary Payton.

Gary, several years Jason's senior, took a young, talented but green basketball player and honed him into a warrior on the streets of Oakland.

No longer competitors, the two are friends, but Jason remembers Gary's trademark fearlessness.

"He'll guard anybody. If he had enough weight, he would guard Shaq. He enjoys the challenge, anything that challenges him and brings out the best in him."

Jason and GP hanging out prior to the start of the 2001-02 All-Star Game (Getty Images).

Seattle Upset

On April 13th, 2008, Jason arrived in Seattle to play the SuperSonics. Not coincidentally, Gary was in attendance, and as usual, was a thorn in Jason's side. As reported by Sports Illustrated:

In the second quarter, Payton appeared from the visitors' tunnel and angled his way to his front-row seat in the corner near the Mavericks' bench. Screaming cheers around him spread quickly throughout the arena, and his formal introduction on the scoreboard video screen created a standing ovation that was the loudest and most sincere of the evening. The 16,272 were applauding what they had before seven years of arena squabbles swallowed up the franchise.

Inspired by their former star, the Sonics -- one of the NBA's worst teams -- went on to defeat the 50-plus win Mavericks, 99-95.