PAYTON'S DRIVING MOTIVATION RINGS TRUE CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT JEWELRY PROMPTED MOVE TO LAKERS.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

The irony of ironies for new Lakers point guard Gary Payton was revealed this month to a small crowd of reporters after an otherwise meaningless exhibition game at the San Diego Sports Arena.

That was where the 13-year NBA veteran, who took a nearly $8.2 million pay cut to sign with the Lakers in July and win this year, casually mentioned he doesn't like to wear rings, not even the championship ring he so covets.

``I think I'll give it to my mother,'' Payton said. ``I give all my (Olympic) gold medals and all that stuff to my mother. Then I'll probably get my father one. And then that'll be that.''

Make no mistake, however. Payton - who owns a Las Vegas mansion featured on MTV's ``Cribs'' and collects cars and watches - has come to Los Angeles for the one thing that can't be bought. At age 35, in his second new city in eight months, Payton wants the career validation winning a ring would provide.

Even if it is something the future Hall of Famer nicknamed ``The Glove'' never will slip on a finger.

``I don't wear rings,'' said Payton, whose teams have lost in the first round of the playoffs the past three years. ``But I think if I win one, I'm going to get everybody in my family one.''

After 13 years in Seattle - and a brief stay in Milwaukee last season after being traded for Ray Allen - Payton is adjusting to his new surroundings in Los Angeles. He remains the trash-talking, lock-down defender familiar to fans from his days with the Sonics.

The only difference is that Payton now is doing it with a gold Lakers No. 20 jersey on his back. He's trying to learn coach Phil Jackson's triangle offense in time for the season opener. And he also has a seat reserved next to Shaquille O'Neal whenever they're together on the bench.

Payton signed for the $4.9 million midlevel exemption, down from the $13.08 million he made last year with the Sonics and Bucks. He will be counted on to provide the defensive intensity and overall energy his new team was lacking for much of last year.

``He's always talking,'' said point guard Derek Fisher, who will back up Payton this season. ``He can be loud and boisterous at times, but in a positive way. He jokes around a lot. But he brings a lot of respect.''

Added second-year point guard Kareem Rush: ``He's a funny guy. I think we all knew that from playing against him. He'll tell you where to be and what you need to do. He jaws a little bit out there, but he's fun to watch and fun to play with.''

Payton was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 and has been selected to nine consecutive All-Star Games. He averaged 20.4 points a game last year but left Seattle, where he was the leading scorer in Sonics' history, on acrimonious terms.

Payton's agent, Aaron Goodwin, said at the time the team never offered his client a new long-term deal. The Sonics countered that Payton said he wouldn't re-sign with Seattle.

Now with the Lakers, Payton will make his return to Seattle on Jan. 2 but said he has no plans of ever living in the city again.

``I don't feel weird (as a Laker),'' Payton added. ``Once I get on the basketball court and playing, I'm just going to feel like Gary, playing basketball, the way I've been playing for the last 13 years.''

He is undoubtedly an explosive presence. During the third exhibition game against Phoenix, Payton collected the ball at one end and raced downcourt. He beat all five Suns players in transition and streaked down the left side of the lane for a layup.

And before the game, Payton also made a statement about how he is trying to fit in with his teammates.

Nursing a bruised heel, O'Neal was surrounded by reporters asking about his contract-extension demands in the converted San Diego Gulls minor-league hockey locker room. The question was put to O'Neal about whether he should take less money so the Lakers can sign other free agents.

``No,'' Payton answered from behind the throng.

A dozen heads turned in his direction.

``Because he doesn't deserve less.''

Never mind that Payton did the exact same thing to come to Los Angeles. His words, though, might also have described how he will run the Lakers' offense this season: deferring once again to O'Neal.

Between Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Payton and O'Neal, the Lakers have four players who combined to average 98.5 points a game on their respective teams last season. But Payton said he isn't concerned about getting shots for himself.

``Shaq's going to be the man to go to,'' Payton said. ``We're going to put the ball in to him. ... I'm not worried about it because if I get on the break and break people down, they're going to get the ball.''

Payton added that it could take a month before he is fully comfortable with the triangle offense. He will bring up the ball (freeing Bryant of that duty), lead the fastbreak and serve as the team's quarterback. Payton also has a quick trigger when left open, averaging 15.6 shots a game for his career.

He also has a well-earned reputation for chasing other guards face-to-face anywhere on the floor. And it is Payton's presence on defense, trash-talking and all, that excites Jackson the most.

``Gary's voice on the defensive end is very important to us,'' Jackson said. ``We need someone that can talk. We've been pretty mute as far as a defensive team goes, guys playing by feel rather than by noise and sound and by touch.''

``He picks his spots,'' Fisher added, ``where he can be really aggressive and make life hell for a guy. For a guy who's 34 and 35 years old, to still get after it, I think that's going to help us a great deal.''

Even in the middle of the chaos surrounding Bryant, Payton said there are no distractions for him. He added that the quickest way for the team to forget about all the off-court problems is to come out and win.

Rest assured, Payton also has an eye-popping number in mind.

``If we go 40-2, then the circus will stop,'' he said. ``All (the media and fans) will be thinking about is, `These guys are playing the way they're supposed to be playing.' And that's what we're going to do.''

He also enters the season with no lack of confidence. During one timeout during an exhibition game, Payton turned to Malone after spotting a weak spot in the Phoenix defense and said: ``We'll make it easy like that.''

Payton has said that not winning a championship this year would be a ``failure.'' Though he might never wear his ring, Payton desperately wants one. And he wants the Lakers to play like champions from the start.

``We're going to come out acting like we're going to be the best team in the NBA,'' he said. ``We're going to have to win.''

Ross Siler, [phone]

ross.siler(at)dailynews.com

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Gary Payton will run the point for the lakers this season. He says all he wants to do is win

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer