PAYTON TAKES HIS PLACE ON OLYMPIC TEAM : SEATTLE GUARD IS ECSTATIC OVER REPLACEMENT ROLE.

Byline: Ailene Voisin Atlanta Constitution-Journal

Gary Payton was in Houston 10 days ago, the first stop on his two-month itinerary, when he was paged by his agent, Aaron Goodwin.

``Do you want to play for the Olympic team?'' Goodwin asked.

``Yeaahhhhh!,'' Payton replied. ``But how can that be?''

``Glenn Robinson quit,'' the agent said. ``You're in.''

As USA Basketball vice president Rod Thorn took the phone from Goodwin and began reciting details about physicals, plane flights, contract requirements, etc., Payton started compiling his own mental checklist.

Had his parents heard yet? Anyone tell Seattle coach George Karl, his most vocal booster? Then all his friends, cousins, teammates. . . .?

``It was such a shock,'' said Payton, following practice at Moody Bible College. ``I had made all these plans. I was going to the Bahamas, then I was going to catch Mike Tyson's fight (July 13 in Las Vegas). Instead I was on a plane back to Oakland getting ready to play in the Olympics.''

Payton shakes his head. He grins. Who expected this?

Though already an All-Star and a recent star of the NBA Finals - and long before that, a legend in his Oakland neighborhood - the SuperSonics' point guard was further stunned by the reaction of others. His parents were ecstatic. Neighbors, friends, people he barely knew suddenly were offering encouragement and warning him about Croatia, Yugoslavia, Lithuania. Some even warned him about his own teammates.

``Some of the (USA) guys said they called Michael (Jordan) `The Glove' whenever he was on the floor in '92,'' said Payton. ``But I said, `Well, they call me that all the time.' ''

Along with Payton's defensive abilities and stature as the league's premier thief (he has led the NBA in steals three straight years), coach Lenny Wilkens says his presence also offers insurance in the event that ballhandlers John Stockton and Scottie Pippen remain hobbled or become unavailable. Though more a hybrid than classic point guard, the 6-foot-4 Payton has exceptional quickness, an improved perimeter shot and though not an exceptional playmaker, is an outstanding all-around player.

Wilkens cites Payton's versatility and superior outside shot as primary reasons for his selection over Dallas' Jason Kidd, arguably the best pure passer in the game. ``And Gary is terrific in transition,'' Wilkens said. ``We saw that during the Finals.''

The Sonics' performance in the recently concluded championship series did more than display Payton's skills; it convinced NBA and USAB officials that while Payton remains a serious trash talker, his banter no longer borders on the obscene or the offensive - at least not within hearing distance of the microphones and the stands.

Payton wonders about Kemp's exclusion. Robinson is a forward. Kemp is a forward. Yet Payton - a guard - replaces Robinson. Were officials still wary of Kemp's behavior? Had those missed flights late in the season further damaged his image?

``Shawn and I haven't talked, so I have no idea what he's thinking,'' said Payton, one of four free agents on the U.S. team's roster. ``But hopefully I'll be back (with the Sonics) and it won't be a big deal.''

First two tuneups: The U.S. Dream Team finally gets to play a game today, in Auburn Hills, Mich., against a team of collegiate all-stars.

``We're looking forward to playing, although I don't know any other of those guys other than (Wake Forest's) Tim Duncan,'' said Karl Malone. ``But we're looking forward to jumping into things and getting going.''

The U.S. team then heads for Cleveland on Sunday for a game against the Brazilian Olympic team.

In Chicago on Sunday, a real grudge match will be going on at the Rosemont Horizon, one with perhaps significant medal implications for the Atlanta Olympics.

The Croatian team, led by the Bulls' Toni Kukoc and the Celtics' Dino Radja, faces the Lithuanian team, led by the Kings' Sarunas Marciulionis and the Trail Blazers' Arvidas Sabonis.

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Photo

Photo: Gary Payton spent the Fourth of July practicing with U.S. Olympic basketball teammates.

Associated Press