History of John Stockton in Timeline

John Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player widely considered one of the best point guards ever. He played his entire 19-season NBA career (1984-2003) with the Utah Jazz, making the playoffs every year. Alongside Karl Malone, Stockton led the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, where they were defeated by the Chicago Bulls both times in six games. Stockton holds the NBA record for most career assists and steals, solidifying his legacy as a dominant and enduring player.

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Full Timeline

1926: NFL Championship

In 1926, John Stockton's grandfather, Hust Stockton, was a member of the Frankford Yellow Jackets' NFL Championship team.

March 26, 1962: John Stockton's Birth

On March 26, 1962, John Houston Stockton was born. He later became a celebrated American professional basketball player.

1979: 1,000 assists in one season

In 1979, Kevin Porter recorded 1,099 assists in a single season.

1980: Graduation from Gonzaga Prep

In 1980, John Stockton graduated from Gonzaga Prep, concluding his high school career after breaking the city record for points scored in a single basketball season.

June 1984: Drafted by Utah Jazz

In June 1984, John Stockton was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the NBA draft as the 16th overall pick.

November 10, 1984: Highest Scoring Game as Rookie

On November 10, 1984, John Stockton had his highest scoring game as a rookie, scoring 19 points in a game against the Denver Nuggets.

1984: Started NBA career with Utah Jazz

In 1984, John Stockton began his NBA career with the Utah Jazz, marking the start of his professional basketball journey.

1984: U.S. Olympic Team Tryouts

In 1984, John Stockton participated in the spring tryouts for the U.S. Olympic team, making the initial cut but was later released. It was during this experience that he met his future teammate, Karl Malone.

1984: Senior Year Performance for the Bulldogs

In 1984, during his senior year for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, John Stockton averaged 20.9 points per game, leading the West Coast Athletic Conference in scoring, assists, and steals, and earning WCAC Player of the Year.

1985: 1,000 assists in one season

In 1985, Isiah Thomas recorded 1,123 assists in a single season.

1987: Starting Point Guard for the Jazz

In 1987, John Stockton became the starting point guard for the Utah Jazz.

1988: All-NBA Second Team

In 1988, despite leading the league in assists and steals, John Stockton was not selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game; however, he was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

1989: Games Missed due to Injury

In 1989, John Stockton missed four games, marking the only games he missed in his first 13 seasons due to injury.

1990: Assists-per-game record

In 1990, John Stockton set the record for assists-per-game average over one season with 14.5, showcasing his exceptional playmaking abilities.

January 15, 1991: Career-High 28 Assists

On January 15, 1991, John Stockton achieved a career-high and franchise-record 28 assists in a home game win against the San Antonio Spurs.

1991: Led league in steals per game

In 1991, John Stockton led the league in steals per game, adding to his reputation as a dominant point guard.

1992: Reached Western Conference Finals

In 1992, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time but were defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers.

1992: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1992, John Stockton played on the United States national team in the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, winning a gold medal as part of the "Dream Team".

1992: Member of the 'Dream Team'

In 1992, John Stockton was part of the United States Olympic basketball team, famously known as the 'Dream Team'.

1993: All-Star Game Co-MVP

In 1993, John Stockton, along with Karl Malone, was named co-MVP of the All-Star Game, which was held in Salt Lake City.

1994: Milestones achieved

During the 1994 season, John Stockton achieved many milestones, solidifying his legacy in the NBA.

1994: Conference Finals appearance

In 1994, John Stockton and the Jazz reached the Conference Finals, but lost to the Houston Rockets.

February 1, 1995: NBA All-Time Assist Leader

On February 1, 1995, John Stockton became the NBA's all-time leader in assists, surpassing Magic Johnson with a total of 9,937 career assists during a game against the Denver Nuggets.

1996: Deal for salary-cap space

In 1996, John Stockton agreed to a deal that made salary-cap space available for the team to improve, prioritizing the team's success over personal financial gain.

1996: Conference Finals appearance

In 1996, John Stockton and the Jazz reached the Conference Finals, but lost to the Seattle SuperSonics.

1996: Second Olympic Gold Medal

In 1996, John Stockton played on the U.S. men's Olympic basketball team and won another gold medal, adding to his Olympic achievements.

1996: Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History

In 1996, John Stockton was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history, a prestigious recognition of his contributions to the sport.

1996: Franchise Record

In 1996, the Utah Jazz set a franchise record and led the Western Conference with 64 wins.

1997: "The Shot" and First NBA Finals Appearance

In 1997, John Stockton made "The Shot", a buzzer-beating three-point shot, sending the Jazz to their first NBA Finals. They were defeated by the Chicago Bulls.

1997: Knee Injury

In 1997, John Stockton missed the first 18 games of the season due to a knee injury.

1997: Accusations of dirty play

In 1997, John Stockton was voted as the second dirtiest player in the league in a Sports Illustrated poll, showcasing his physical playstyle.

1997: NBA Finals Appearance

In 1997, John Stockton, alongside Karl Malone, led the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals, where they were defeated by the Chicago Bulls.

1998: Second NBA Finals Appearance and loss to Bulls

In 1998, John Stockton and the Jazz reached the NBA Finals again, facing the Bulls. Despite Stockton's late three-pointer in Game 6, the Jazz were ultimately defeated.

1998: Second NBA Finals Appearance

In 1998, for the second consecutive year, John Stockton and the Utah Jazz reached the NBA Finals, only to be defeated by the Chicago Bulls once again.

1999: Best Athlete from Washington

In 1999, Sports Illustrated named John Stockton as the best athlete to come out of the state of Washington in the 20th century, highlighting his impact on sports in the region.

May 2, 2003: Retirement Announcement

On May 2, 2003, John Stockton announced his retirement from professional basketball, citing family reasons.

2003: Retirement from NBA

In 2003, John Stockton retired from his professional basketball career after spending his entire NBA career with the Utah Jazz.

2003: Coaching Youth Teams

In 2003, after retirement, John Stockton returned to Spokane and began coaching youth teams, serving as an assistant on multiple teams at once.

November 22, 2004: Jersey Retirement

On November 22, 2004, John Stockton's number 12 jersey was retired by the Utah Jazz, honoring his contributions to the team.

March 23, 2006: Statue Placement

On March 23, 2006, a statue of Karl Malone was placed near John Stockton's statue in front of the Delta Center, commemorating their achievements together.

May 11, 2006: Ranked Fourth Best Point Guard

On May 11, 2006, ESPN.com named John Stockton the fourth best point guard of all time, acknowledging his impact on the game.

2009: Induction into Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2009, John Stockton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as an individual, recognizing his outstanding career.

2010: Hall of Fame Induction with Dream Team

In 2010, John Stockton was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with the rest of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team.

2011: Michael Stockton Signed with BG Karlsruhe

In 2011, Michael Stockton signed with BG Karlsruhe in Germany's second basketball division.

2011: Shawn Stockton Finished College Basketball Career

In 2011, Shawn Stockton finished his college basketball career at the University of Montana.

2013: Autobiography Release

In 2013, John Stockton released his autobiography entitled "Assisted", co-written with Kerry L. Pickett, with a foreword by Karl Malone.

2014: David Stockton Career at Gonzaga

In 2014, David Stockton completed his college basketball career at Gonzaga.

October 28, 2015: Assistant Coach at Montana State University

On October 28, 2015, John Stockton joined Montana State University's women's basketball program as an assistant coach, replacing Kellee Barney.

2016: 1,000 assists in one season

As of 2016, John Stockton was one of three players to have logged more than 1,000 assists in one season, a feat he accomplished seven times, demonstrating his consistent excellence in playmaking.

2017: Michael Stockton Signed with BG Göttingen

In 2017, Michael Stockton signed with BG Göttingen in Germany's first basketball division, the Basketball Bundesliga.

2019: Assists-per-game average record

As of 2019, John Stockton still held the record for assists-per-game average over one season with 14.5 in 1990, showcasing his exceptional playmaking abilities.

2020: Laura Signed Her First Professional Contract

In 2020, Laura Stockton signed her first professional contract to play for Herner TC in Germany.

October 2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In October 2021, John Stockton was again honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, solidifying his legacy in basketball history.

2021: Appeared in "V-Revealed, COVID Edition"

In 2021, John Stockton appeared in the video series "V-Revealed, COVID Edition", expressing doubt about the COVID-19 pandemic and warning against vaccines, claiming athletes died due to vaccines.

January 2022: Gonzaga Suspends Season Tickets

In January 2022, Gonzaga suspended John Stockton's season tickets due to his refusal to comply with the university's mask mandate.

2022: Laura Signed Contract with TK Hannover Luchse

In 2022, Laura Stockton signed a contract with the TK Hannover Luchse in Lower Saxony, Germany, and won the German Cup and reached the championship finals.

2022: Ranked 25th Greatest Player

In 2022, to commemorate the NBA's 75th Anniversary, The Athletic ranked their top 75 players of all time, and named John Stockton as the 25th greatest player in NBA history, acknowledging his significant contributions to basketball.

2024: Founded Voices for Medical Freedom

In 2024, John Stockton and Ken Ruettgers founded Voices for Medical Freedom.

March 2026: NBA Record for Career Assists

As of March 2026, John Stockton holds the NBA record for career assists with 15,806, marking him as the first player to reach the 10,000 through 15,000 career assist milestones.

March 2026: NBA Career Steals Record

As of March 2026, John Stockton holds the NBA record for career steals with 3,265 and stands 55th on the list of NBA career scoring leaders with 19,711 career points.