Roland Lazenby - Stockton to Malone: The Rise of the Utah Jazz

Published by Addax Publishing Group
Copyright 1998 by Roland Lazenby
Designed by Anonymouse Graphics
Cover Design by Jerry Hirt
Photos by Bill Smith
Cover photo by Don Grayston

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher.
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ISBN 978-1-886110-43-4

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Printed in the United States of America
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

This book is not an official publication of, nor is it endorsed by, the Utah Jazz.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lazenby, Roland.

Stockton to Malone : the rise of the Utah Jazz / by Roland Lazenby.

p. cm.

1. Utah Jazz (Basketball team)--History. 2. Stockton, John, 1962
3. Malone, Karl. I. Title.

GV885.52.U8L39 1998

796.3236409792258--dc21 98-6540
CIP

Introduction

This is a story of the uncompromising competitiveness of three menUtah Jazz power forward Karl Malone, point guard John Stockton and coach Jerry Sloan.

For the past decade, Sloan has been the hard-nosed officer in charge of the Jazz, a voice from the old school demanding the ultimate competitive effort from his players. Stockton and Malone are the on-court charges who execute Sloans vision. They are the premier point guard and power forward of their time, yet they are as decidedly old school in their approach as Sloan himself. They turn their noses up at the empty flattery of stardom and focus on one thing, their quest of many seasons to win the NBA title. It is this approach that has given the Utah Jazz a remarkable team chemistry, that makes the teams stars unique in modern professional athletics.

Theyre superstars who are down home, says 13-year veteran Antoine Carr, who came to Utah just before the 1994-95 season, of Malone and Stockton. I mean, Ive run across a lot of guys in this league who thought they were better than everybody else and kind of carried themselves that way. But these guys are normal guys. They like to go fishing, hunting. They hang out together, do those things together. Ive never really seen superstars like that.

Adam Keefe, who came to Utah in a September 1994 trade from Atlanta, said he was surprised when his new superstar teammates phoned to see if he needed help moving in. The first thing that struck me, Keefe says, is the type of people they are. Theyre completely unpretentious. They both do such a great job of keeping their lives in perspective.

The atmosphere that Stockton and Malone set around the Jazz makes it easier for the lesser players to find their confidence, Keefe says. The important thing about their leadership is that theyre not spokesmen; theyre not flamboyant characters. They lead by their actions on the court, by demonstrating through their intensity and work ethic.

Neither one of them will ever be late for a bus, a practice or a game. Neither one of them will ever cut corners in practice. In that sense they never take advantage of the special position theyre in, and thats what makes them so tremendous.

Karl Malone is one of pro basketballs all-time greatest

This stands in stark contrast to Keefes experience in Atlanta, playing alongside Dominique Wilkins. For me, especially, what a difference, coming from where I came from, he says. Here, they appreciate and understand the small things that get done. Karls great. If you set a pick for him to get him open, hell say, Thanks.

They understand what it takes, that its not the world revolving around them on the basketball court, that they need other components out there. Theyre both phenomenal in that sense. Theyre not concerned with how theyre seen in the big picture, if they drive the nicest cars or have the most flamboyant clothing. That doesnt appeal to them. What appeals to them are the basics of lifeand winning.

Malone says he likes to think of a quote he read by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman about how its important to walk with your teammates, not out in front of them. Everybody talks about the superstar status, Malone says. I dont know how theyre supposed to act. Thats not how I was brought up. If we were horses behinds, thered be total chaos in this locker room.

Its great when the coach calls your play, and you make a pass to your teammate. Thats your play, and you can do anything you want with it. All of a sudden, your teammates say, I feel a part of this. And thats what its all about. Its not about me, me, me. Its about us, and thats the only way I know how to be. And that is why, to a man, the Jazz are focused on a single goal. If you watch the way we play, Antoine Carr says, the guys are all high-fiving from one to 12. Thats something special. You dont get that very often.

Were gonna try, Carr says, as hard as we can to do what Karl wants to do and what John wants to do, which is win the championship.

What follows is the story of Stockton, Malone, Sloan and companys uncommon effort to reach a common goal.

STOCKTON TO MALONE

The scenes repeat themselves almost every night.

The Utah Jazz badger an opponent into taking a bad shot, and instantly Karl Malone releases upcourt. Underneath, Jazz center Greg Ostertag grabs the defensive rebound and contemplates for a fraction of a second what to do with it. John Stockton rushes up to demand the ball. Ostertag gives it up, and Stockton immediately hurls it the length of the floor, where it falls into Malones waiting hands just two steps from the hoop for the easy layup.

Ker-ching. Stockton and Malone ring up another two points, another assist. It is an act they have executed thousands of times over the past dozen seasons playing together. How perfectly numerical it is that as Stockton, the National Basketball Associations all-time leader in assists and steals, closes in on 13,000 assists, Malone will be busy logging his 27,000th point.

Moments later, the Jazz are running their half court offense. Malone sets the pick high and rolls to the left side of the lane. The slightest crease of a passing lane opens, and Malone turns his massive 6-9, 256-pound body just enough to pin the defender on his hip. Stockton threads the bounce pass low and away, so that only Malone can reach it. He scoops it up like gravy and pivots, executing a sweet drop step. Ker-ching. Another easy layup. Another assist.

Then theres Stockton on the break, moving full speed, with his head turning like a swivel, surveying the options, seeing whos with him on the wings. Stockton keeps pushing and penetrates, and then does what every coach tells a point guard not to do: He leaves his feet. In mid-air, he looks hard right to the deep corner where Jazz forward Bryon Russell awaits the pass. But at the last instant, Stockton flips the ball back over his left shoulder, across the key to where Malone has spotted up for an open jumper. Ker-ching.