[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I was just rewatching the 1997 Western Conference Finals between the Jazz and the Rockets and man… John Stockton took that game over in the last minute and a half. It just makes me think had Stockton done more of that throughout the Jazz’s two final appearances. They probably could have won the Finals. 

Here is the point when he took over in that Houston game…

http://www.youtube.com/watch

He was also a lot tougher than people thought. He wasn’t messing around out there… if he got hit then he wasn’t afraid to hit back. Back in the day, this wouldn’t have been a tech like today’s NBA would have.

It just makes me ask the question… Since I am 15 and I didn’t really watch Stockton live though I have watched reruns of some of his biggest games. What does the forum think of John Stockton?

 

[trelos6Participant]

He’s a top 20 player all time.

Probably on par with Isiah. He had the longevity, Isiah had the higher peak.  

[trelos6Participant]

He’s a top 20 player all time.

Probably on par with Isiah. He had the longevity, Isiah had the higher peak.  

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

a few things, the obvious is Stockton is the all-time leader in asts by far and steals. JS was also voted by other NBA players as “the dirtiest player” in the league. To me that is a testament to his “not backing down to anyone” and his fierce competitive spirit. Most consider JS as the purest PG ever.

As for who is considered better between Isiah and Stockton has more to do with team needs, style and personal preference. You wouldn’t be wrong picking either.

[CU.LIONSParticipant]

a few things, the obvious is Stockton is the all-time leader in asts by far and steals. JS was also voted by other NBA players as “the dirtiest player” in the league. To me that is a testament to his “not backing down to anyone” and his fierce competitive spirit. Most consider JS as the purest PG ever.

As for who is considered better between Isiah and Stockton has more to do with team needs, style and personal preference. You wouldn’t be wrong picking either.

[r377Participant]

Very good shooter, he could of averaged 20+ppg if he shot the ball more, but leading the league in assists for 9 straight years will do that to you………

Was heaps dirty player. He had long nails and used to scratch opponents I remember seeing some photos of opponents forearms back in the day and it looked like they had just played one on one with Freddy Kruger !!!

I remember a doco about him in the Olympics – he went out with his wife and had a tshirt of all the dream team and asked ppl in the street to name all the players on the team in his tshirt. They knew virtually all of the players except that small, skinny, white guy. Even talking to him, they didn’t know who he was !!!

[r377Participant]

Very good shooter, he could of averaged 20+ppg if he shot the ball more, but leading the league in assists for 9 straight years will do that to you………

Was heaps dirty player. He had long nails and used to scratch opponents I remember seeing some photos of opponents forearms back in the day and it looked like they had just played one on one with Freddy Kruger !!!

I remember a doco about him in the Olympics – he went out with his wife and had a tshirt of all the dream team and asked ppl in the street to name all the players on the team in his tshirt. They knew virtually all of the players except that small, skinny, white guy. Even talking to him, they didn’t know who he was !!!

[Sewok15Participant]

Stockton gets overlooked somewhat because he obviously never won the big one. Another reason I think is because it was always him and Karl Malone. He was always known for feeding Malone on the pick and roll more than scoring for himself (which as you see he could have done a lot more of).

The only player that I can say was like him that I saw was Steve Nash. Nash played Stockton style all the way to a couple MVPs. I would really like to see how Stockton would have faired in todays game with the Steph Curry’s and Russell Westbrook’s of the world. He would have had to scratch them twice as deep.

[Sewok15Participant]

Stockton gets overlooked somewhat because he obviously never won the big one. Another reason I think is because it was always him and Karl Malone. He was always known for feeding Malone on the pick and roll more than scoring for himself (which as you see he could have done a lot more of).

The only player that I can say was like him that I saw was Steve Nash. Nash played Stockton style all the way to a couple MVPs. I would really like to see how Stockton would have faired in todays game with the Steph Curry’s and Russell Westbrook’s of the world. He would have had to scratch them twice as deep.

[r377Participant]

If you were only 15yo….. Think of Steve Nash with a lego man haircut and short, tight shorts……. John was better defender.

[r377Participant]

If you were only 15yo….. Think of Steve Nash with a lego man haircut and short, tight shorts……. John was better defender.

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

Just the other day I randomly browsed basketball-reference and realized Stockton played 17/19 FULL seasons!

* In 1989/90 he played 78 games
* In 1997/98 he played 64 games do to injury
* Other than that he played them all!
* 1,504 out of a possible 1,526

Other than that he played 82 games at ages 40,39,38,37… Nowadays when players miss games over shin contusions you gotta respect Stockton’s durability.

for the stats – https://twitter.com/Akiva_R/status/707223424305913858

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

Just the other day I randomly browsed basketball-reference and realized Stockton played 17/19 FULL seasons!

* In 1989/90 he played 78 games
* In 1997/98 he played 64 games do to injury
* Other than that he played them all!
* 1,504 out of a possible 1,526

Other than that he played 82 games at ages 40,39,38,37… Nowadays when players miss games over shin contusions you gotta respect Stockton’s durability.

for the stats – https://twitter.com/Akiva_R/status/707223424305913858

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Probably the best "pure" pg in the history of the game. By the classic standard definition of what a pg should be, there was no one who ever fit that description more than Stockton. But you really had to be a true basketball afficionado to fully appreciate his game. Thats why he really didnt appeal to a lot of fans who wanted to see highlights, crossovers and dunks. Even i have to admit that i was too young at the time he was playing to really appreciate how good he was. 

 His game was timeless. He would have been great in absolutely any era of basketball because his game was based strictly on fundamentals and basketball smarts. He was all substance and very little flash. Still the player that I would recommend most for any young kid who wants to learn to play the pg position to watch.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

Probably the best "pure" pg in the history of the game. By the classic standard definition of what a pg should be, there was no one who ever fit that description more than Stockton. But you really had to be a true basketball afficionado to fully appreciate his game. Thats why he really didnt appeal to a lot of fans who wanted to see highlights, crossovers and dunks. Even i have to admit that i was too young at the time he was playing to really appreciate how good he was. 

 His game was timeless. He would have been great in absolutely any era of basketball because his game was based strictly on fundamentals and basketball smarts. He was all substance and very little flash. Still the player that I would recommend most for any young kid who wants to learn to play the pg position to watch.

[Roland209Participant]

There’s a reason John Stockton was on stage during Gary Payton’s Hall of Fame speech. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

  

[Roland209Participant]

There’s a reason John Stockton was on stage during Gary Payton’s Hall of Fame speech. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch

 

 

  

[HazelParticipant]

The thing two things that stood out to me and differentiated him from all the others were

1) His consistency/durability:  He and Karl stayed in their primes for longer than most hall of fame careers.  They were literally all-star level for about 15 years.  They were valuable starter-level players their entire careers.  And of course, they almost never missed a game.  Incredible.

2) His clutch performances.  Stockton had more game winning steals, baskets, or assists than anyone I have ever seen.  He led a comeback over the historic bulls team from 8 points down with 40 seconds to go.  The last play breaking Jordans ankles as time expired.  (you can see in the last basket on Youtube). 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[HazelParticipant]

The thing two things that stood out to me and differentiated him from all the others were

1) His consistency/durability:  He and Karl stayed in their primes for longer than most hall of fame careers.  They were literally all-star level for about 15 years.  They were valuable starter-level players their entire careers.  And of course, they almost never missed a game.  Incredible.

2) His clutch performances.  Stockton had more game winning steals, baskets, or assists than anyone I have ever seen.  He led a comeback over the historic bulls team from 8 points down with 40 seconds to go.  The last play breaking Jordans ankles as time expired.  (you can see in the last basket on Youtube). 

 

 

 

 

 

  

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 My dad played pick up ball with Stockton all the time in Spokane. The guy lived in the gym. Love me some Stockton 

[SeattleSuperChronicsParticipant]

 My dad played pick up ball with Stockton all the time in Spokane. The guy lived in the gym. Love me some Stockton 

[Author]

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