Utah Jazz

John Stockton says his relationship with Karl Malone is ‘inseparable’: ‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Karl Malone’

Published by
Peter Dewey

Hall of Fame guard John Stockton recently went into detail regarding his close relationship with his former Utah Jazz teammate Karl Malone.

“I felt there was something magical,” Stockton said of playing with Malone. “The guy read my mind. He caught everything. He finished everything. He had all my work ethic and then some. He loved the game.

 

“Just one thing after another. Just kind of bond, bond, bond, bond to where now he is literally inseparable for me as a brother. We don’t see each other every day. We talk occasionally on the phone. That term is probably overused, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Karl Malone, and I think he feels the same way.”

Stockton and Malone were teammates in Utah from the 1985-86 season through the 2002-03 season. They took the Jazz to the NBA Finals on multiple occasions during their playing careers. Today, they are both Hall of Famers.

There’s no doubt that the two players were special together on the floor, as they combined for 24 All-Star selections in their storied careers. Malone is also a two-time MVP.

Malone averaged 25.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game throughout his career while Stockton averaged 13.1 points and 10.5 assists per contest during his time in the league.

Stockton and Malone had a chemistry that allowed Malone to become one of the greatest scorers in NBA history while Stockton went nine straight seasons as the NBA’s leader in assists per game.

The dynamic duo came close to winning a title twice in the late 1990s, but Stockton and Malone were knocked off by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls both times.

Stockton and Malone are two of the greatest players in NBA history, and it is certainly great to see that Stockton believes they are brothers for life after all they achieved together in the NBA.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

9 hours ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

1 day ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

2 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

4 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

6 days ago