Liter22
04-30-2002, 08:01 PM
John Stockton I herd might be considering retirement. Please John don't go he's only 40 thats not old ( in dog years )
Here is a link that will give you his stats lifetime and for the year.http://www.nba.com/playerfile/john_stockton/index.html
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From the assoicated press
Offseason could be eventful for aging Jazz
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Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY -- Their frustrating season over at last, the steady, aging Utah Jazz face a potentially massive makeover. Everything hinges on what 40-year-old John Stockton decides about next season.
Team owner Larry Miller said Tuesday he plans to meet with Stockton in the next two or three weeks to learn whether the future Hall of Fame point guard will return for a 19th NBA season.
"We're going to let the dust settle first," Miller said. "We need to let the season emotionally tie itself up."
And then, Miller plans to press Stockton for an answer. They usually meet late in the summer, but with seven free agents and Stockton's situation unresolved, time isn't a luxury this year.
Utah needs to move ahead quickly on a roster strategy for next season, as well as planning a course for the franchise after the inevitable departures of Stockton and 38-year-old Karl Malone.
"We need to bring a new dimension to this team," Miller said.
It was a tough year for the Jazz, who become an NBA power in the 1990s. The downswing was evident in Utah's 44-38 record in 2001-02, its worst since 1986-87, and a four-game first-round playoff loss to top-seeded Sacramento.
As Stockton and Malone get older, the Jazz are in transition. They started two rookies, center Jarron Collins and flashy Russian Andrei Kirilenko, for much of the season, with plenty of growing pains.
"The fans here in Utah can be proud of the progress our younger guys made," said Malone, who averaged 22.4 points and 8.5 rebounds. "The discouraging part was that it was such an up-and-down season. It was a roller coaster."
Stockton has another season remaining on a two-year contract. He plans to discuss his future with his family and Miller, then decide if another 82-game grind is worth the demand on his aging body and lost family time.
The fiery Stockton, who averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 assists and 2.5 turnovers, also has said he won't return unless he expects a competitive season, individually and as a team.
“ If you're hurting the team, then you're not doing anybody any good regardless of your experience. I want this team to succeed whether I'm here or not. ”
— John Stockton
"If you're hurting the team, then you're not doing anybody any good regardless of your experience," Stockton said. "I want this team to succeed whether I'm here or not."
Once Stockton makes up his mind, Miller and other decision-makers can consider what to do about the free agents. Most notable are forward Donyell Marshall and swingman Bryon Russell, who both hope to return.
"The formula here has been good for me," said Marshall, whose 14.8 scoring average was second on the team behind Malone. "I've enjoyed playing with Karl and John. I've had two good years here and I would enjoy a few more."
After nine NBA seasons, all with the Jazz, it might be the end of Russell's time in Utah. Slowed by a broken bone in his pelvis, he averaged 9.6 points a game and shot a career-low 38 percent.
"I was hurting. I came back from the injury too soon," Russell said. "That's my fault, though. Nobody forced me to play, but I don't think one bad season is going to put me down."
Utah's other free agents are Rusty LaRue, Quincy Lewis, Scott Padgett, John Starks and John Crotty. Also potentially in the picture is Raul Lopez, a Spanish-league point guard drafted by Utah in the first round last summer.
"I'd love to have those two guys, Stockton and Lopez, play together for a year," Miller said.
The problem is, Lopez tore a ligament in his right knee last fall and missed his season after surgery. Additionally, there are questions about whether the Jazz can buy out the contract with his team in Spain.
"He's not ready. He's not going to be ready, either," said Kevin O'Connor, Utah's vice president for basketball operations.
All told, it looks like a retooling is in order for what has long been one of the NBA's most stable franchises.
"We planned it a year ago to have a two-year window with our veterans to see how we would fare," O'Connor said. "Some of the veterans aren't going to be back with us. That's the nature of the business."
:puter: :puter: :puter:
Here is a link that will give you his stats lifetime and for the year.http://www.nba.com/playerfile/john_stockton/index.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the assoicated press
Offseason could be eventful for aging Jazz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY -- Their frustrating season over at last, the steady, aging Utah Jazz face a potentially massive makeover. Everything hinges on what 40-year-old John Stockton decides about next season.
Team owner Larry Miller said Tuesday he plans to meet with Stockton in the next two or three weeks to learn whether the future Hall of Fame point guard will return for a 19th NBA season.
"We're going to let the dust settle first," Miller said. "We need to let the season emotionally tie itself up."
And then, Miller plans to press Stockton for an answer. They usually meet late in the summer, but with seven free agents and Stockton's situation unresolved, time isn't a luxury this year.
Utah needs to move ahead quickly on a roster strategy for next season, as well as planning a course for the franchise after the inevitable departures of Stockton and 38-year-old Karl Malone.
"We need to bring a new dimension to this team," Miller said.
It was a tough year for the Jazz, who become an NBA power in the 1990s. The downswing was evident in Utah's 44-38 record in 2001-02, its worst since 1986-87, and a four-game first-round playoff loss to top-seeded Sacramento.
As Stockton and Malone get older, the Jazz are in transition. They started two rookies, center Jarron Collins and flashy Russian Andrei Kirilenko, for much of the season, with plenty of growing pains.
"The fans here in Utah can be proud of the progress our younger guys made," said Malone, who averaged 22.4 points and 8.5 rebounds. "The discouraging part was that it was such an up-and-down season. It was a roller coaster."
Stockton has another season remaining on a two-year contract. He plans to discuss his future with his family and Miller, then decide if another 82-game grind is worth the demand on his aging body and lost family time.
The fiery Stockton, who averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 assists and 2.5 turnovers, also has said he won't return unless he expects a competitive season, individually and as a team.
“ If you're hurting the team, then you're not doing anybody any good regardless of your experience. I want this team to succeed whether I'm here or not. ”
— John Stockton
"If you're hurting the team, then you're not doing anybody any good regardless of your experience," Stockton said. "I want this team to succeed whether I'm here or not."
Once Stockton makes up his mind, Miller and other decision-makers can consider what to do about the free agents. Most notable are forward Donyell Marshall and swingman Bryon Russell, who both hope to return.
"The formula here has been good for me," said Marshall, whose 14.8 scoring average was second on the team behind Malone. "I've enjoyed playing with Karl and John. I've had two good years here and I would enjoy a few more."
After nine NBA seasons, all with the Jazz, it might be the end of Russell's time in Utah. Slowed by a broken bone in his pelvis, he averaged 9.6 points a game and shot a career-low 38 percent.
"I was hurting. I came back from the injury too soon," Russell said. "That's my fault, though. Nobody forced me to play, but I don't think one bad season is going to put me down."
Utah's other free agents are Rusty LaRue, Quincy Lewis, Scott Padgett, John Starks and John Crotty. Also potentially in the picture is Raul Lopez, a Spanish-league point guard drafted by Utah in the first round last summer.
"I'd love to have those two guys, Stockton and Lopez, play together for a year," Miller said.
The problem is, Lopez tore a ligament in his right knee last fall and missed his season after surgery. Additionally, there are questions about whether the Jazz can buy out the contract with his team in Spain.
"He's not ready. He's not going to be ready, either," said Kevin O'Connor, Utah's vice president for basketball operations.
All told, it looks like a retooling is in order for what has long been one of the NBA's most stable franchises.
"We planned it a year ago to have a two-year window with our veterans to see how we would fare," O'Connor said. "Some of the veterans aren't going to be back with us. That's the nature of the business."
:puter: :puter: :puter: