John Stockton Named To NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Oct 19, 2021, 6:35 PM | Updated: 6:36 pm
(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz legend John Stockton has been named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
To honor the 75th anniversary, the league is releasing a list of the 75 best players to ever don an NBA uniform. The list is being released in three batches of 25 players running from October 19-21.
Stockton was also a member of the NBA’s 50th-Anniversary team which was announced in 1996.
Easy selection for the NBA's all-time assists and steals leader. https://t.co/GOHOH672CT
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) October 20, 2021
Though he never won a championship, Stockton is one of the most decorated players in NBA history.
The guard is the league’s all-time leader in assists with 15,806 and steals with 3,265. Stockton is the only player to hold the lead in two of the NBA’s five major categories, both records that are unlikely to be broken due to the guard’s remarkable longevity.
Stockton played for the Jazz between 1984-2003 where he averaged 13.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 38 percent from the three-point line.
The guard was selected to 10 All-Star games, 11 All-NBA teams, five All-Defensive teams, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Stockton’s teammate Karl Malone is a lock to be named to the 75th Anniversary Team in the coming days after retiring as the second-leading scorer in NBA history. Former Jazzman “Pistol” Pete Maravich was also named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary team and is a strong candidate to be chosen once again.
Joining Stockton On 75th Anniversary Team
Stockton earned the honor among the most talented players to ever grace the NBA. The list so far includes three active NBA players and 22 retired legends.
75th Anniversary Team: Day 1 Reveal. #NBA75 pic.twitter.com/WzqTrixBue
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) October 20, 2021
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brooklyn Nets MVPs Kevin Durant and James Harden were each selected to the Anniversary Team.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Archibald, Charles Barkley, Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Julius Erving, George Gervin, Hal Greer, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Lucas, Moses Malone, Kevin McHale, Gerges Mikan, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bob Pettit, Willis Reed, Oscar Robertson, David Robinson, and Bill Russell each joined Stockton among retired players named to the team.