Robinson remembers Payton's words clearly because they were his introduction to NBA trash talk, an art form that's as much a part of pro basketball as the 24-second clock. Even the most reserved player, it seems, can't resist making a comment or two in the heat of battle. The NBA doesn't sanction trash talking, of course. The rule has had an effect.
Many players believe that trash talking is on the decline.
During a typical game, though, players still jabber more than Rush Limbaugh, all the while following the canons of the trash-talking game within the game. Insulting an opponent's ancestry is strictly for amateurs. On the playground it's worse. In the NBA the trash revolves more around professional matters. A trash talker doesn't have to open his mouth to get his message across.