The 21 Greatest NBA stars that played for a single team
By Cal Durrett
![Dirk Nowitzki NBA, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Dirk Nowitzki NBA, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/424f88589f1dcfff70b7de839cb7c187374f83dc8f523d5ed820950f8072003f.jpg)
NBA stars that played for one team #15: John Stockton
Despite being the all-time leader in both assists and steals, Utah Jazz legend John Stockton is rarely discussed. Perhaps it’s because he spent his entire 19-year career in Utah, which endeared him to Jazz fans but caused him to fly under the radar in all-time discussions. Not on this list, however.
Stockton was a master playmaker in the pick and roll and formed a legendary partnership with fellow Hall of Famer Karl Malone, who would’ve also made the cut had it not been for that one season spent in Los Angeles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOYt5pkN4I&pp=ygUJam9obiBzdG9j
In addition to being an amazing playmaker, Stockton was a thief on the defensive end, with an incredible knack for playing the passing lanes and stripping big men in the post when providing help.
He combined those impressive abilities with incredible endurance. During his 19-season career, he played an incredible 1511 regular-season games. That averages out to 79.5 games played per season, even with the lockout-shortened season. That durability allowed the Jazz to maximize their ceiling and prolong their window.
With Malone, he helped lead the Jazz to five Western Conference Finals and back-to-back NBA Finals. Of course, Stockton didn’t ultimately win a championship, but his legacy in Utah is secure.