NBA Hall Of Famer John Stockton On Career, Dream Team Memories
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - NBA legend and hall of famer, John Stockton, called in to the Starkey and Muller show Friday afternoon. The 19-year player for the Utah Jazz has written an autobiography titled Assisted, with a foreword from his former teammate Karl Malone.
When asked about how he and Malone developed their chemistry, Stockton said, "The chemistry with Karl almost came instantaneously. I think it came more as a result of his ability. I literally remember throwing passes that I thought 'Oh that's a turnover' and all of a sudden out of nowhere he would snatch it from under somebody's armpit and make a layup with it. After about two of those you just have great confidence. You can throw the ball anywhere, when he's full speed, at his shoe laces or whatever – he's going to make a play. That chemistry came pretty darn quickly."
While on the subject of great passing talent of the NBA, Stockton reflected that "There are certain guys that I'll always appreciate for seeing something different than other people see."
In this breath he mentioned Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Isaiah Thomas.
In his reflection of entering the NBA and when he felt welcome, Stockton said, "I always felt like I could play with anybody. I didn't think anyone else would agree with me. I thought the Jazz would realize their mistake very early on and release me at the first opportunity. So I just kept my nose to the grindstone and kept trying to get better and try to make that not part of my conscious thought.
I do remember a game, I think it was my first or second year, against the great Laker team with Magic and Worthy and Kareem and Rambis and Byron Scott and all those guys. It was a home game at the Salt Palace where I ended up having a pretty good statistical game and the papers started saying 'there might be a player here.' And that's really the first time I thought somebody else thought I was a player, which was a nice revelation."
Stockton and the Utah Jazz played against the best team in the NBA of their generation: Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Although they came up short, and never won a championship, Stockton says that situation was clearly disappointing.
"We knocked heads with the best team of our era," he said. "Things didn't work out. A shot here a play there and things could've been different – but they're not. I'm disappointed, sure. Still am. But the opportunity to play in those games? I'd take 10 chances at it. Even if I failed all ten, I'd rather play in them than not and what a great thrill that was. The whole experience."
Stockton also spoke about changes that he's seen in the NBA, memories from being on the Dream Team, the one dunk experience he had in his career, and whether he thought Jordan actually pushed off Russell in that controversial game.
The 6-foot-1-inch point guard of the Utah Jazz also had words of wisdom to pass along to other players who might feel undersized: "Every perceived disadvantage can be an advantage. Size is a disadvantage in the NBA and yet time and time again you see little guys that have found a way to make it work and then they become indispensable. I just say don't necessarily trust what everybody is saying out there. Trust what you believe in, believe in your heart, and let it rip."
Click the audio link below to hear the full interview.
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