<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Jazz will retire John Stockton's No. 12 in November, honoring the point guard who spent his entire 19-year career with the team. Stockton, the NBA career leader in assists and steals, retired after the 2002-03 season.</div> <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1885964" target="_blank"> Full Story</a> courtesy of ESPN.com
Its about time, and we all knew it was coming. Next in line should be Adrian Dantley or Karl Malone, if he ever retires. John Stockton #12 Forever.
i'm not a fan of jazz (well, because of malone), but stockton really did so well in all these years his passing were accurate and his assists were great, he's the most steady and calm pg i've ever seen salute john stockton the #12!
Stockton really deserved this, he played for 19 seasons for the same team and brang it every season. Now for the Hall of Fame. If you read the ESPN article, Jerry Sloan gives him praise, that in itself is a great achievement.
Why hasn't Adrian Dantley gotten his jersey retired too? He played seven seasons with the Jazz, and average about 30 ppg during that time. Is there some bad blood between him and the organization or something? In fact, I just checked and Dantley average over 30 ppg in four consecutive seasons while with the Jazz. Only three other players have ever done that: Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, and Oscar Robertson. That's some pretty good company!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Why hasn't Adrian Dantley gotten his jersey retired too? He played seven seasons with the Jazz, and average about 30 ppg during that time. Is there some bad blood between him and the organization or something?</div> He and Larry Miller have a strong dislike for each other. Miller refuses to give Dantley his due, which is a shame. As for Stockton, there isn't a player in any sport whose career I respect more than his. He was able to play his entire career for the same team. He was all substance as a player and a man. He really could care less about the spotlight, all he cared about was the game. He negotiate his final contract with Larry Miller in twenty minutes. I heard that he played with twelve stiches in his shooting hand during a preseason game. He was as tough as they come. No player deserves his jersey retired more than Stockton.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post">He and Larry Miller have a strong dislike for each other. Miller refuses to give Dantley his due, which is a shame.</div> That's too bad. Hopefully Miller won't hold any grudges with Malone after he retires. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As for Stockton, there isn't a player in any sport whose career I respect more than his. He was able to play his entire career for the same team. He was all substance as a player and a man. He really could care less about the spotlight, all he cared about was the game. He negotiate his final contract with Larry Miller in twenty minutes. I heard that he played with twelve stiches in his shooting hand during a preseason game. He was as tough as they come. No player deserves his jersey retired more than Stockton.</div> I was also a big Stockton fan. When he hit that three pointer against us in th WCF, seeing him jump up in the air because he finally got to the Finals made the whole thing more bearable. He's kind of like a combination of Pete Rose and Cal Ripken. And he's one of those players who could play and excel in any era. Sometimes, I wish young kids would try to emulate his style of play and mentality more and Jordan's less. Too many people trying to be like Mike in today's game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">That's too bad. Hopefully Miller won't hold any grudges with Malone after he retires. </div> There is a chance he will unfortunately. During the heat of the Malone/Laker chapter Miller threatened Malone, to his face, to erect a statue of John Stockton in front of the Delta Center. He had said before he would do one of Stockton and Malone. This may have been something he said in the heat of the moment when he was bitterly dissapointed in Malone but if he means it then I wouldn't hold your breath over a retired Malone jersey. Malone should have his jersey retired though. Courtesy of Standard Net
Some articles on John Stockton <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Oh, I think he'll show up, but it will be tough for him, I think, because he's not into that sort of stuff," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, who became Layden's assistant coach about four months after Stockton was taken by Utah with the 16th pick of the 1984 NBA Draft. Four years later, Sloan was head coach, and Stockton was an NBA all-star well on the way to becoming the all-time league leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265), being named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history and making the original Olympic gold-medal-winning "Dream Team" in 1992. "John never played basketball for individual awards or accolades," added Sloan. "He played basketball because he enjoyed it and loved playing. That's (the number-retirement ceremony) just part of what's going to happen because of the way he did play." The Jazz made the NBA playoffs in every season that Stockton was on the roster.</div> Courtesy of DeseretNews <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Forgive John Stockton. He hasn't thought much about the Jazz's plans to retire his number, or what it will mean to him. No time. "I've been watching kids - left and right - play sports," Stockton said. "A couple play football. A couple play soccer. One's in volleyball. . . . I've got my hands full, and it's not even basketball season yet." Stockton, now 42, retired as the NBA's all-time assist and steals leader following the 2002-03 season. He lives in Spokane, Wash., his hometown, with his wife, Nada, and their six children. On Tuesday, Jazz owner Larry Miller announced the team will retire Stockton's No. 12 on Nov. 22, when the New Orleans Hornets visit the Delta Center.</div> Courtesy of Salt Lake Tribune
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I was also a big Stockton fan. When he hit that three pointer against us in th WCF, seeing him jump up in the air because he finally got to the Finals made the whole thing more bearable. </div> From that day forward I knew I would be John Stockton fan for life. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sometimes, I wish young kids would try to emulate his style of play and mentality more and Jordan's less. Too many people trying to be like Mike in today's game</div> I got the John Stockton DVD, and I believe it was Danny Ainge said everytime he played the Jazz, he would tell his kids to watch how Stockton played because he played the game right. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He and Larry Miller have a strong dislike for each other. Miller refuses to give Dantley his due, which is a shame.</div> Alot of the beef was between Dantley and Layden too, and I believe Layden said he thought Miller should retire his jersey. But they was a sign of hope for Dantley's jersey being retired, Boozer asked for #4, but they refused to give it to him because of Dantley. So I guess its "unofficially" retired.
