Karl Malone and John Stockton played together for 18 years. Contrary to what some might believe, they were not joined by the hip at birth. On a serious note, their relationship started as wide-eyed youngsters drafted by one of the youngest NBA franchises back then.
On NBA TV's Players Only segment, Malone talked about meeting his future partner-in-crime in Utah for the first time. Karl was then a rookie, while Stockton was a second-year backup point guard playing behind Rickey Green.
"After the first set of practices, I get my food, and I'm walking, looking for a table. I looked across, and (I saw) one lone white guy stood by himself. It was John Stockton," said the 6'9'' power forward. "I walked in and looked at the table, it was full. I looked, and I walked over; the first thing I said to him was, 'How you doing, I'm Karl.'"
"That's the first time we met. 'Is something wrong with you over here?' (Stockton replied:) 'I just want to sit over here,'" Malone recalled the conversation.
Just an average Joe
The Gonzaga alum did not become a full-time starter until his fourth season. John played every game until that point, averaging almost as many points as assists in his first three years. On the other hand, Malone was a starter since his rookie year and was a 20-point scorer by his second season. When coach Frank Layden decided to let Stockton run the show in 1987, he never looked back.
In 1992, the duo was invited to join the Dream Team, the only teammates besides Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Even with basketball superstardom, the NBA's all-time steals and assists leader was the same regular guy Malone first met at practice.
As a testament to the Washington native's unassuming and quiet nature, he once walked around Barcelona unrecognized during the quadrennial event. There was a bit of a traffic problem, so John decided to get off the team bus and walk home.
Stockton took advantage of the situation by sightseeing with his family and strolling with a camera on hand. The 10-time All-Star then had a funny interaction with an American lady with a Dream Team shirt. Stockton asked her to name the players on the shirt until his kids pointed at his picture and said, "That's our dad!" Only then did the woman realize she was speaking to a basketball star!
Related: "Tell him to trace his history and see how many slaves his ancestors had" - When Larry Johnson and Bill Walton got into a fierce verbal clash
Last of a dying breed
Many basketball fans label Stockton a "true" point guard. In a hoops context, a genuine playmaker prioritizes setting up his teammates more than scoring the ball. This requires excellent passing ability and a high basketball IQ, both of which are hallmarks of the Jazz legend's game.
As former NBA point guard Andre Miller lamented, the "true" point guard is a dying breed . Basketball's modern evolution was essentially the Ice Age that killed off players like Stockton.
However, "Stock" could hold his own in the modern era with his toughness and underrated scoring chops. The Hall of Famer was always an efficient operator who expertly picked his spots. John had multiple seasons shooting over 50% from the floor and 40% from deep while always being sharp at the line.
And in typical Stockton fashion, he could easily drop a 15-point, 15-assist game without saying a word.
Related: "He was already an NBA guy in his first year" - John Stockton on his first impression of Karl Malone as a rookie
Local News
Comments / 0