2005, Payton was #1 on the list of best college point guards of the past 15 years by a reporter for College Hoops Net. In a 2008 Espn.com article, Payton was named the best #2 draft pick in NBA history during the "lottery era" (1985–present), ahead of Jason Kidd. Payton, who as of the end of the 2007–08 season was tied for 31st with 9 NBA All-Star game appearances, was a solid performer in All-Star games, leading his team in assists three times (1995, 1997 and 1998), and in points once (1996). Payton had the two highest single-game assist totals for NBA All-Star games in the 1990s (15 in 1995, and 13 in 1998). Upon his retirement, he ranked #6 all-time in All-Star game assists and #10 in All-Star game steals. He is also tied for #1 in All-Star game free throw percentage, having never missed a free throw in any of his 8 attempts. Payton was runner-up to Mitch Richmond for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game MVP award. In 2006, in commemoration of the NBA's 60th anniversary, TNT selected Payton among the next 10 players to be added to the list of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. In the NBA's 100 Greatest Plays, Payton was responsible for the 4th greatest play in the "Hustle" category, passed to Kemp in the NBA's 5th greatest Alley Oop, and was also featured in the NBA's greatest steals segment. Payton has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated six times: three times as the featured cover story (in 1990, 1994, and 1996), and three times in a secondary role. Payton has appeared on the cover of SLAM two times – June 1998 and March 2003. The Seattle Mayor's Office declared June 6, 2000, as "Gary Payton Day". He had two streaks of 350+ consecutive games played. Payton played 354 consecutive games between January 16, 1992, and March 13, 1996. Five days later, Payton began his second iron-man streak playing in 356 consecutive games between March 18, 1996, and January 17, 2001. In 1999, Charles Barkley called Payton "the greatest player in the world." At the time of his graduation from Oregon State University in 1990, Payton ranked third in all-time NCAA steals and second in all-time NCAA assists. See also List of National Basketball Association career games played leaders List of National Basketball Association career scoring leaders List of National Basketball Association