John Stockton played all 1,504 of his career NBA games in a Utah Jazz uniform. After 19 years with the organization, he can now find himself in the top 10 in team history in 32 different statistical categories.
He is first in NBA history in assists, assist percentage and steals. He's second in assists per game and seventh in steals per game.
His unselfishness, vision, ball-handling and passing ability on offense and his tenacity and leadership on defense are key components of the ultimate blueprint for a true point guard. No one has ever exemplified what the position was meant to be better than Stockton.
As the floor general (point man, quarterback, call it whatever you want), he led his team both tactically and emotionally. Tactically in the sense that he got the offense flowing, made sure everyone was where they were supposed to be at all times and almost always made the right decision with the ball. Emotionally in the sense that he inspired his teammates and made everyone better, including Karl Malone.
From 1987 to 1996, Stockton led the NBA in assists per game for eight straight seasons. During that stretch, he averaged 15.7 points, 13.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.6 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range.
During the 1989-90 season, Stockton averaged 14.5 assists a game. That's the best single-season mark in NBA history. Of the top six seasons in league history for assist average, Stockton can lay claim to five.
The only player who might have an argument as a better point guard is Magic Johnson.
But for the Jazz, Stockton's the best. Not just at point guard, but the best all-around player in franchise history.
