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Utah Jazz: 25 Best Players To Play For The Jazz

By Phil Watson

Apr 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The trees in full bloom and a general view of at Vivint Smart Home Arena where the Utah Jazz will play the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; The trees in full bloom and a general view of at Vivint Smart Home Arena where the Utah Jazz will play the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: John Stockton (R) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket past Steve Nash (L) of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in Salt Lake City, Utah, 10 December, 2001. (GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: John Stockton (R) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket past Steve Nash (L) of the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in Salt Lake City, Utah, 10 December, 2001. (GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images) /

player. 118. <strong>How acquired:</strong> 16th overall pick from Gonzaga, 1984 NBA Draft.. PG. 1984-2003. John Stockton. 2

John Stockton was Gonzaga before being Gonzaga was cool. After averaging almost 21 points and more than seven assists a game as a senior at Gonzaga, Stockton was the 16th overall pick of the Utah Jazz in the 1984 NBA Draft.

Not the full-time starter at point guard until his fourth season, Stockton just endured, earning 10 All-Star nods, including sharing MVP honors with teammate Karl Malone at the 1993 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, 11 All-NBA selections and was picked All-Defensive five times.

UTA_02_STOCKTON
UTA_02_STOCKTON /

He led the NBA in assists for nine consecutive seasons, 1987-88 through 1995-96, and finished in the top five 15 times. He also led the NBA in steals in 1988-89 and 1991-92 among his eight top-five finishes in that category.

He finished second in the league in 3-point shooting in 2000-01 and fifth in 1994-95 and was fourth in field-goal percentage in 1987-88 and fifth in 2001-02.

When the Jazz advanced to the 1997 NBA Finals, Stockton averaged 15 points, 8.8 assists, four rebounds and two steals in 37.5 minutes per game, shooting .500/6-for-15/.846 in a six-game loss to the Chicago Bulls.

The following year, he averaged 9.7 points, 8.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and two steals in 32.3 minutes per game, shooting .490/2-for-9/8-for-11 in another six-game exit at the hands of Chicago.

He played his entire career for the Jazz, retiring in May 2003.

In 19 seasons in Utah, Stockton averaged 13.1 points, 10.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 31.8 minutes per game, shooting .515/.384/.826.

Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009, he is the NBA’s all-time leader with 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals, as well as ranking second in league history with an average of 10.5 assists per game, third with 1,504 games, eighth with 47,764 minutes played and 2.2 steals per game and 42nd with 19,711 points.

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