| When John Stockton
was drafted, he wanted one thing from the NBA - enough money to
build a house. He held out through rookie camp his first year
until the Jazz raised their contract offer from the league
minimum of $75,000. Once the Jazz offered $80,000 he gladly
accepted. Convinced he would only be in the NBA for one season,
John Stockton began saving money with the same tenacity that
would someday make him a star.
Stockton shopped for the cheapest apartment he could find. He
didn’t own a car or make any major purchases until half way
through the season when he broke down and bought a television to
watch the Superbowl. |
John Stockton |
As much time as he spent in a gym or on the
road, he never needed the heat turned on. He shopped for food in
cases and made food in bulk and froze it. On road trips, he
would eat cheap and save as much as he could of the daily travel
expense money the players were each given. When there were too
few first class seats and one brave soul was offered the
difference in airfare from first class to coach for forfeiting
his seat – Stockton always volunteered.
One season turned into nineteen. The apartment turned into a
house. The heat was turned and left on. The loaner car turned
into a family car. His status rose and records fell.
In addition to playing basketball and becoming a husband and
father, Stockton undertook one more great task, whether he meant
to or not. Not much is said about John Stockton being an author.
That’s because he didn’t write the record book – he simply
rewrote it.
When people talk of records that will never be broken, they used
to talk of the home run record in baseball. That record broken
several times, it's safe to say it will be broken again. One
record that will never be broken is John Stockton’s record for
assists in a career. The mark is untouchable. Stockton played
the game the way it was meant to be played – even as it changed
in front of him. Guards went from pass first to score first.
They make their team better by being better themselves while
Stockton made every individual on the team better and the team
benefited twelve fold. He challenged time and injury. Not only
did he play 19 seasons, but in 17 of those seasons, he never
missed a game.
"I am very excited about the possibility of playing for the Utah
Jazz" Stockton said as he was introduced to the Utah Media for
the first time. Stockton retired from the league with the same
humility he entered it with. He made the game and the NBA a
better place. He represented his country in 2 Olympics and
brought home 2 gold medals.
While John Stockton amassed 19,713 points in his 19-year career
he was directly responsible for well over 50,000 points when you
add in his 15,806 assists. His defensive instincts not to be
outdone, he also holds the NBA record for steals with 3,265.
When John Stockton retired, Jerry Sloan, his Coach of 15 years
described the thoughts of basketball fans everywhere when he
said "John, we thought you would play forever " after a pause
Sloan finished the sentence with the words that beat in every
Jazz fan’s heart "and we hoped you would."
John Stockton came into the league hoping to save enough money
to build a house. He leaves the league after not only building a
house, but building an arena, a franchise, and a legacy no one
will forget.
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