Stockton to retire

[renuszm]

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — NBA career assists leader John Stockton plans to retire after 19 seasons, and he met with Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and owner Larry Miller to tell them.

"I think I'm finished," Stockton said Friday. "I informed those guys and that's the direction I'm headed. I just said, 'I think it's time to move on.'''

The 41-year-old point guard's 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals both rank first in league history.

Utah's season ended Wednesday with a 111-91 loss to the Sacramento Kings, who won their first-round playoff series 4-1.

During the season, Stockton shrugged off questions about his future, repeatedly answering "Will this be it?" with, "I don't know."

Despite his age and playing his fewest minutes since the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, he remained among the league leaders at point guard, finishing fifth in the NBA with 629 assists. He averaged 10.8 points this season, down from his career high of 17.2 in the 1990s.

He was selected one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, and he played in every game in 17 of his 19 seasons.

Stockton was drafted 16th overall by the Jazz out of Gonzaga, the school in his home town of Spokane, Wash.

He was hardly known — just a quiet, skinny 22-year-old with a thatch of jet black hair.

His appearance never changed much, but his anonymity vanished quickly once former coach Frank Layden made Stockton a starter in the 1987-88 season.

That's when Stockton and forward Karl Malone established themselves as one of the top tandems in NBA history.

Stockton went on a five-season spree averaging at least 1,100 assists and 200-plus steals while scoring between 14.7 and 17.2 points a game.

Establishing himself as one of the top point guards in the league, he earned a spot on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team, along with such stars as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

He was an Olympian again in 1996, the summer before the Jazz went from contenders to Western Conference champions.

Stockton and Malone led the Jazz to back-to-back conference titles in 1997 and 1998, when Jordan and the Chicago Bulls spoiled Utah's best chance for an NBA title.

Stockton will always be known more for his pinpoint passing and tenacity on defence than his shooting. But some of the Jazz's most memorable baskets came from Stockton's hand.

It was Stockton's 26-foot three-pointer at the buzzer in Houston that gave Utah its first trip to the NBA final in 1997.

In the 1999 playoffs, his 22-footer at the horn saved the Jazz from elimination, and Utah went on to beat Sacramento in the first round.

[Liter22]

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAY IT AINT SO JOHN:cry:

[renuszm]

Originally posted by Liter22
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAY IT AINT SO JOHN:cry:
http://www.waymoresports.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=waymoresports/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1051643367106&call_page=WM_Home&call_pageid=979619472127&call_pagepath=Home/Home

[Steffo]

NOOOOOOOO!

There goes the sport.:eviltongu

[milky_way]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Well i can't say i'm surprised :(. Depressed, but not surprised :cry:

[milky_way]

R.I.P. Utah Jazz

There goes our heart and soul.

So where does this leave Malone? :cry: i almost want him to leave too...everything's gonna change...if you're gonna take off the bandaid you mind as well rip it off and get it over with :cry:.

Why would Malone stay if Stock's gone... :cry:

Why would Sloan stay if Stock and Malone are gone...:cry:

Damn.

[milky_way]

www.nba.com/jazz/news/stockton_050203.html
After 19 seasons with the Utah Jazz, Jazz guard John Stockton annouced that he would be retiring.

Question – Did the meeting help clear your mind about what you are going to do?
John - I think I’m finished, I’ve informed those guys and that is the direction that I’m headed.

Question- You mean that you have retired from Pro Basketball?
John – Something like that, yea.

Question – What did you say to them?
John – That I think that it is time for me to move on.

Question – Was there something, John, from Sacramento to here that made you decide that?
John – No, the momentum has been building towards that, it sure didn’t help.

Question – This has got to be tough:
John – Yes

Question - That is a definite decision, there is no way you will change your mind?
John – I would be very surprised, I can’t think of what would change my mind at this point.

Question – Did you know that coming in today or was it something that was said in there?
John – No, I worked into in this morning.

Question – What are some of the factors, can you go over some of the factors?
John – There are a lot of them, as I mentioned before, there is always family, how you are playing, how the team is doing, there are so many things that fit into it and I don’t think that you can accurately describe which one has the most impact. All in all I think it is clear that this is the time for me.

Question – Your teammates and the coach, how did everyone take it?
John – Some of them will hear from you, the coaching staff, Larry, they all know. That is the important part.

Question – Do you think Jerry now will stay or go?
John – I hope he stays, he is a great man, he is great for this game, for this league and I hope he stays because he is important.

Question – What has it meant to you to be here for 19 years and have such a wonderful career?
John – You have got to start asking me these tough questions because I have to get through this.

Question – Did you know when you sat down on the bench in Sacramento, was there a part of you that knew then?
John – No as I mentioned, it is a momentum thing and that was the start of it, no, I shouldn’t say the start of it, it was just creeping into it then.

Question – Did you ever come close the last couple of years to just walking away?
John – Oh yea, most definitely.

Question - What about everybody at home, did you talk about it with them
John - Yah, they knew it was a possibility, you never know if you are going to pull the trigger or not.

Question – Will home be Salt Lake City or Spokane?
John – I have to go through one decision at a time right here.

Question – John I know it is tough for you but what the fans and everybody else, maybe you can be a little bit reflective?
John – I’m afraid I can’t get reflective right now.

Question - Can you look back?
John – No it will be to tough.

Question – Did Jerry or Larry try to talk you out of it in there?
John – Um, no, no I try to make it clear to think about things and I think I had considered most of them if not all of them and they were all supportive.

Question – Jerry loved the game and had to walk away too, did he try to guide you a little bit?
John – No

Question - How hard was it to actually let those guys know in there and get the words out?
John – I don’t want to discuss that right now.

Question – How long until you pick up a basketball and play again?
John – Tomorrow probably out in the yard. It’s still a great game.

Question – Is coaching in your future?
John – Sure, probably kids.

Question – Did Jeff ever talk to you about this, life after basketball?
John - No, we are always talking about kids and the goofy things that went on with the 8th grade team and the 6th grade team that is what we usually talked about.

Question – How exciting for your kids to know that you will be at all their games especially your oldest?
John – I don’t know

Question – John, what will you miss the most?
John – I don’t know. That’s good, thanks

[lal4l]

My 2nd fav player ever! I love this guy I will miss him a lot. BEST PG EVER. I havent seen Magic but i know JS is the best regular sized!

[uj4l]

I dont have anything to say, but he is getting old, thats what i expected from him.


:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[renuszm]

Well without him we know that Utah will have a high pick next years draft. THen you can draft John Stockton Jr.!! :D

[milky_way]

uj, did you see his interview when he was cleaning out his locker :cry: (the same one i posted)

It sounded like he was about to cry at the end :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[awefullspellare]

:cry:

atleast the Nuggets will be a slot higher next year :D