Second-greatest player in the history of each NBA franchise
Utah Jazz: John Stockton
Greatest Player: Karl Malone
John Stockton was a floor general supreme, averaging 10.5 career assists per game while having led the league a whopping nine consecutive times in that department.
More impressive than Stockton’s elite point guard skills, however, was his ability to maintain them for nearly two decades in the NBA.
Across 19 seasons — all with the Utah Jazz, an achievement in and of itself — Stockton missed a total of 22 games, including just four games over his first 13 years. That durability combined with his hefty assist numbers is what helped him nab the top spot on the all-time assist list.
Related Story. The 6 strangest things to happen in the NBA this season. light
Adept at stealing the ball with 2.2 per game in his career, Stockton also racked up the most steals in NBA history as well.
Under Stockton’s steady guidance, the Jazz made the only two Finals appearances of their existence — back-to-back losses to Chicago in 1997 and 1998 — and three other showings in the conference finals.
Utah couldn’t have thought much of Stockton after taking him outside the lottery with the 16th pick of the 1984 Draft. Turns out, he wound up breaking records as one of the greatest point guards ever.