About 90 minutes before last night's game, Gary Payton opened a large box in front of his locker.

The Sonics' point guard took out 11 small boxes wrapped in burgundy with white ribbons, and placed them in the stalls of every teammate.

Rashard Lewis was the first Sonic to walk in and discover his gift.

"What is this?" Lewis said.

"Open it and find out, boy," Payton responded loudly.

Lewis unwrapped the box to find a sleek, Swiss-made watch — Corum — with a black wristband and a special inscription on the inside:

"Thanks for the All-Star Assist. G.P. 2002."

Lewis unleashed a toothy grin and tried on the watch as other players trickled in before having similar responses.

"Thanks, G.," Lewis said, while trying on the watch.

"Well, I appreciate you all," said Payton, "helping me to make it to Philly."

Payton leaves for Philadelphia today for his eighth consecutive All-Star appearance. And as a gesture toward teammates, Payton had the watches sent directly from the Corum factory in Switzerland.

"It's just showing them that they deserve to be there too," Payton said after last night's 90-79 victory. "Giving me an opportunity to lead the team in scoring. It's not a big deal.

"I just appreciate these guys. This is a different group of guys than I've played with over the years. They are all young and willing to learn and listen."

Payton's gesture contrasts the perception of the point guard before this season as a selfish player who fosters animosity among teammates.

"Since I've been playing, he hasn't been as hard as people say," Lewis said. "That's what the media blows up. He's helped me as a player."

Nonetheless, Lewis added: "He's taken a step back scoring-wise and distributing the ball. He doesn't yell as much. And he's teaching everybody. He's really taken the role well."

Sonics center Jerome James said: "I think it's very nice. It takes words away from me. I didn't expect anything. G.P. works hard every day. For him to say thank you back to us is huge. It teaches me a lot about being a veteran and being a leader."

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