Tag: John Stockton

John Stockton criticizes LeBron James’ influence on personnel moves

Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton doesn’t like how LeBron James, in his view, tries to dictate personnel decisions for his team.

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LeBron James is one of the greatest players in NBA history, and he certainly deserves that honor. He has been lauded for empowering his teammates by not only being a great passer, but also by helping coach them and putting them in position to succeed.

However, James has also been criticized for his perceived outsized influence on his teams’ personnel moves, some of which have been questionable or even downright bad. The Los Angeles Lakers’ failed Russell Westbrook trade of 2021 had his fingerprints all over it, and it left many with a bad taste in their mouths.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton went off on the four-time MVP for his role on roster moves during a recent podcast.

Via Fadeaway World:

“I don’t know what it’s like to sit in that front office and have things dictating to you like a plan, and it appears LeBron is,” Stockton said on the DNP-CD podcast.

“I don’t know for sure that he is, but it’d be maddening as a teammate to know that you can be expendable for one of his guys that he thinks he needs to play with. The iffiness it causes with the team, the iffiness that it causes upstairs.”

By December 2021, once it became clear Westbrook wasn’t going to fit in that well with the Lakers, James and his camp, which included agent Rich Paul, reportedly looked to have the 2017 league MVP traded. It took a while before he was dealt, but over the last several months, it appears James’ influence over the Lakers may be waning.

They could’ve made one more move for Kyrie Irving this offseason, and they were rumored to be interested in Chris Paul, a member of James’ “Banana Boat” crew. Instead, they stayed the course, opting for roster continuity and incremental improvement rather than chasing big names.

Eight ACC players selected for Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

Two recent Notre Dame players could have an NBA shot.

There are several avenues for NBA hopefuls to make it to the league. One of the better-known ones is the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, which is open only to recent college seniors. This is the oldest amateur tournament in the country, so it carries some weight.

The tournament doesn’t generate NBA draft picks every year, but Tyrese Martin ended a four-year drought when he became a second-round selection in 2022. [autotag]Pat Connaughton[/autotag] was drafted after taking part in the 2015 tournament. Other notable tournament alumni include Jimmy Butler, Tim Hardaway, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, John Stockton, Dave Cowens, Earl Monroe and Rick Barry.

This year, eight recent ACC seniors have the opportunity to compete in the tournament. While there aren’t any guarantees for what happens afterwards, it’s a great way to get noticed by scouts. Here are the players who represented the ACC during the past season and will get a good look by folks who know the professional game well:

Could LeBron James end up as the all-time scoring AND assists leader?

LeBron is going to shatter the scoring record. He just moved into fourth all-time in assists.

Welcome to Layup Lines, our basketball newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.

LeBron James is going to break the all-time scoring record. At this point, it’s not a matter of if, but when? The answer is likely sometime late next week.

This week, however, James climbed up another all-time list. He recorded 11 assists in the Lakers’ win over the Knicks on Tuesday to pass Steve Nash for fourth all-time. He now trails buddy Chris Paul for third, Jason Kidd for second and John Stockton for first.

So is it possible James finishes his career as the all-time scoring and assist leader? Let’s dive into it.

Stockton’s record is 15,806 assists, which is 5,468 ahead of James. So it would take James roughly 771 games at his current pace of 7.1 assists per game to break the record. That would require James to play 82 games every year for another decade until he’s about 48 years old. And that pretty much answers the question. It ain’t happening.

According to HoopsHype, if James averaged a slightly more realistic six assists while playing 70 games a year, he wouldn’t reach the record until 2036, when he’s 51.

Even catching Kidd, whose 12,091 assists are 1,753 ahead of James, is unlikely. Moving into third will be a challenge too depending on how long James and Paul each decide to play. So fourth place may be where James finishes his career. It’s still quite the accomplishment considering all the players ahead of him are point guards and he’s not.

“That’s just what I love to do, getting my guys involved,” James said about moving up the list. “Try to put the ball on time and on target with my guys throughout the course of my career.”

— Prince J. Grimes

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

(AP Photo/Matt Kelley)

FTW’s Bryan Kalbrosky had a chance to catch up with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. The two discussed Butler’s Michelob Super Bowl commercial, what sports outside of basketball he enjoys and more.

They also delved into ESPN’s decision to replace Butler’s headshot on its website. No longer there is the media day photo of Butler wearing fake locs in his hair. It was replaced with an edited version of last year’s media day photo, and the six-time All-Star isn’t happy about it. So, he might be bringing the trolling hairdo out of retirement:

“I don’t think it’s right. I think I should be able to wear my hair however I want to wear my hair. You’re supposed to be using my media day picture. Put my hair back the way that it was because I love that hairdo on me. I’m going to change it because when I come back after the All-Star break, I’m going to have dreads and everybody is going to have to use that picture again.”

Check out the full Q&A.

One to Watch

(All odds via Tipico)

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Orlando Magic (+325) at Philadelphia 76ers (-9.5, -400), O/U 230.5, 7 PM ET

What we have between the Magic and Sixers is one of the worst road teams in the NBA playing one of the best home teams. And that home team has a little more incentive to get up for an otherwise nothing game thanks to a butt-kicking it took from the feet of the same road team just two days ago. The Magic beat the Sixers by 10 on Monday, so I’ll roll with Philly to return the favor with an equal butt-kicking tonight.

Shootaround

— Rui Hachimura has a great Kobe-inspired reason for his new number with the Lakers

— Lonzo Ball and the Bulls have no idea why it’s taking so long for his knee to recover

— NBA MVP Watch: 5 risers and fallers of January

— Scottie Barnes’ unfazed reaction to DeAndre Ayton became an instant meme

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Jamal Murray joked that John Stockton couldn’t score like him, and he’s absolutely right

Jamal Murray already has three times as many 30-point performances.

When you rank the best guard and big pairings in NBA history, who are the first names that come to mind?

Most basketball fans will probably list some of the greats like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Cousy and Bill Russell, or John Stockton and Karl Malone.

If you’re receiving comparisons to any of those legends, you’re probably doing something right.

David Adelman, the assistant coach for the Nuggets who is filling in for Mike Malone after the head coach entered the league’s health and safety protocols, mentioned Denver’s star duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic alongside the likes of longtime Utah Jazz stars Stockton and Malone.

It was obviously meant as a compliment considering Stockton and Malone are both Hall of Famers who made 24 combined All-Star appearances. Murray, however, made an important observation about the comparison.

Murray smiled and said that he didn’t think Stockton could score as well as he can for the Nuggets, and he isn’t wrong!

Stockton averaged 13.1 points per game during his career whereas Murray has eclipsed that in each of his five professional seasons as a regular starter for the Nuggets.

During the 1,504 regular-season games that he played during his career, the Jazz guard notched at least 30 points on 11 occasions. Murray, meanwhile, has played just 383 regular-season games and he has already recorded three times as many 30-point performances.

Murray, similarly, has scored 6,353 points during his NBA career thus far. After the same number of games in the NBA, Stockton had logged 3,834.

Stockton, of course, is widely considered one of the best passers and most productive playmakers in league history. Murray, however, was well within his right to note the difference in comparative scoring prowess.

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Who are the top former Gonzaga players in NBA history?

The men’s basketball program at Gonzaga is on the rise. Who are the top former Gonzaga players in NBA history? We look at the most prod

Out in Spokane, Washington, a new NCAA men’s basketball powerhouse has slowly taken over the sport. Though it’s not as storied as a school like UNC or Duke, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are quickly becoming the model for elite collegiate hoops in the 21st century. As such, many of the top former Gonzaga players in the NBA are still writing their story.

Gonzaga’s men’s basketball program actually dates back to 1907, where the team saw early success. For most of the next hundred years or so, though, the Bulldogs were a cut below the best of the best in the NCAA. In fact, Gonzaga’s first trip to the Big Dance wasn’t until 1995.

Even though the Bulldogs are really only beginning their climb to the basketball mountaintop, there have been plenty of notable alums to lace up for action in the Association. Let’s look at the all-time best Gonzaga players to play in the NBA.

Hijo de antigua estrella de la NBA logró salir de Ucrania antes de la invasión rusa

El impacto de la invasión rusa a Ucrania ha afectado los deportes europeos, incluyendo el basquetbol. Michael Stockton, el hijo del jugador del Salón de la Fama John Stockton que estaba jugando basquetbol profesional en Ucrania, pudo salir del país …

El impacto de la invasión rusa a Ucrania ha afectado los deportes europeos, incluyendo el basquetbol.

Michael Stockton, el hijo del jugador del Salón de la Fama John Stockton que estaba jugando basquetbol profesional en Ucrania, pudo salir del país la semana pasada y regresar a su hogar en Spokane, Washington, según declaraciones de su agente Mike Main a USA TODAY Sports.

Stockton, de 32 años, jugaba para el Budivelnyk Kyiv en la Súper Liga de Ucrania y tenía un promedio de 10.2 puntos; 6.2 en asistencias, el puntaje más alto de su equipo; 3.3 en rebotes y 1.1 en balones robados. Esta fue su primera temporada con el Budivelnyk, que está en segundo lugar.

Archie Goodwin, compañero de equipo de Stockton y selección número 29 en el draft de la NBA en 2013, salió de Ucrania hace unos días y firmó un trato para jugar en Israel, declaró su agente Eric Fleisher a USA TODAY Sports.

“El equipo seguía diciendo, ‘Todo está bien, todo va a estar bien’ ”, dijo Fleisher. “Como ya había estado en situaciones similares en el pasado en Ucrania y en Israel cuando había un conflicto, hay un momento oportuno y un aumento en las tensiones, y para mí era claro que era tiempo de salir de ahí. Mientras más conocimiento tengas, más fácil será filtrar lo que es real y lo que no. Le dije a Archie, ‘Es tiempo de salirte de ahí.’ ”.

Fleisher dijo creer que unos cuantos jugadores nacidos en Estados Unidos  todavía permanecen en Ucrania. Según basketball.realgm.com, hay aproximadamente unos 60 hombres estadounidenses en las alineaciones ucranianas.

Prometey, el equipo que está en el primer lugar y tiene su sede en Kamianske, Ucrania, reubicó a sus equipos de hombres y mujeres a Praga, en la República Checa.

Taylor Jones, quien jugaba para el equipo ucraniano profesional de mujeres, salió del país la semana pasada y logró llegar a Finlandia. “Digamos que he podido dormir un poco mejor”, Jones le dijo a la estación WXYZ de Detroit TV.

Apenas la semana pasada, Troy Barnies, de Maine, quien jugaba para el MBC Mykolaiv, tenía pensado quedarse, pero el domingo voló a Noruega con su esposa. Le dijo a la estación de televisión WMTW que sus amigos estaban describiendo las largas filas en las estaciones de gasolina y los cajeros automáticos.

“Hay mucho pánico, mucho más que hace unos pocos días y la situación era una locura”, dijo.

Varios estadounidenses también juegan para equipos rusos.

 

El efecto de la invasión rusa en los deportes

La semana pasada, el partido de calificación para la FIBA World Cup en Kiev entre España y Ucrania se pospuso alegando razones de seguridad, y el jueves, un partido de calificación entre Inglaterra y Bielorusia también se pospuso. “La decisión se hizo con base en la evaluación de la situación actual de seguridad en la región”, dijo la FIBA en una declaración.

De igual forma, este jueves, el gigante español FC Barcelona, el mejor equipo de los 18 equipos de la Euroleague, canceló un viaje a Rusia donde tenía programado jugar un partido el viernes en San Petersburgo y otro el sábado en Moscú. También se pospusieron otros partidos que involucraban a equipos rusos.

La Euroleague emitió una declaración diciendo que los juegos se jugarían “a menos que la integridad de todos los equipos participantes esté en riesgo y/o haya decisiones del gobierno que eviten que los partidos se realicen bajo condiciones normales”.

El BC Kalev/Cramo de Estonia, un equipo de la VTB Union League dominada por los rusos, emitió una declaración diciendo que “Debido a la agresión rusa que condujo a la guerra en Ucrania, el BC Kalev/Cramo terminará su membresía con la VTB United League pues no vemos la posibilidad de continuar después de los movimientos hechos por Rusia. Nuestro equipo está en contra de cualquier tipo de violencia o actividad de guerra.”.

La declaración terminaba con #standwithukraine (#apoyenaucrania).

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

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Some cheeky fan put a mask on Utah’s John Stockton statue because he refuses to do it himself

Some clever prankster at least made sure that the sculpted version of the player was following COVID-19 protocol.

Because he refuses to comply with their mask mandate, former Utah Jazz guard John Stockton is no longer allowed to attend basketball games at his alma mater Gonzaga University.

When asked to explain why he does not wear a mask at Gonzaga games even though he was asked to do so, the 59-year-old claimed to The Spokesman-Review that “over 100” pro athletes have died from the vaccine. However, there is no evidence supporting this assertion.

Stockton made headlines in June 2021 when he appeared in a clip that was promoting vaccine conspiracies in COVID and the Vaccine: Truth, Lies and Misconceptions Revealed. Then in Dec. 2021, he spoke in favor of Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving’s decision to not get vaccinated.

Although the former Jazz guard told The Spokesman-Review he considered reversing his anti-mask policy so he could keep his season tickets, Stockton ultimately decided against it. As such, it’s no surprise to see fans react to his firm stance.

For example, after Utah’s loss against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night, The Salt Lake Tribune sportswriter Andy Larsen tweeted a photo of Stockton’s statue outside of Vivint Arena.

Because the former NBA guard is unwilling to wear a mask in his actual life, it seems some clever prankster at least made sure that the sculpted version of the player was following COVID-19 protocol.

Although many fans were able to have a laugh at the little gag, others recognize the danger of Stockton’s rhetoric. One individual who spoke up against Stockton was six-time NBA MVP and six-time NBA champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (Via CNN):

“I think statements like that make the public look upon athletes as basically dumb jocks for trying to explain away something that is obviously a pandemic and the best way to fight pandemics is through vaccination and testing … It doesn’t make sense what he’s saying.”

Stockton says that he is unwilling to budge on his decision to not wear a mask.

That means he likely won’t be able to attend any more Gonzaga basketball games — or many of the other places around the world with similar policies — any time soon.

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Warriors Rewind: Latrell Sprewell and Tim Hardaway combine for 60 points vs. Karl Malone and John Stockton in 1994

With no hoops on the schedule, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s history for memorable matchups and standout performances.

With no hoops on the calendar, Warriors Wire is rewinding the tape back through Golden State’s history for memorable matchups, standout performances and everything else in between.

Early in the 1994-95 season, a budding star linked up with a proven veteran to carry Don Nelson’s group against a pair of future Hall of Famers.

November 11, 1994

Before their matchup with the Western Conference power Utah Jazz tipped off, the Warriors were understaffed. After suffering a knee injury in the offseason, Golden State was without Chris Mullin against Karl Malone and John Stockton.

However, a pair of Warriors combined for a steady performance against Utah’s pair of perennial All-Stars. Run TMC point guard Tim Hardaway tallied 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field with five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Helping with his 30-point effort, Hardaway got hot from beyond the arc, hitting 6-of-10 attempts from long distance.

Following his point guard’s lead, Latrell Sprewell notched 30 points on his own on 10-of-20 shooting from the field. Sprewell added seven rebounds, four assists and a block.

Outside of Sprewell and Hardaway, Ricky Pierce was the only other member of the Warriors to record double-figure scoring numbers against the Jazz. Pierce tacked on 21 points on 4-of-8 shooting in 29 minutes off the bench.

Despite double-doubles from both Stockton and Malone, the 60 combined points from Hardaway and Sprewell was enough to close out the Jazz, 112-104.

Sprewell’s 30 point night against the Jazz was the first of 13 games where he racked up 30 or more points. In 1994-95, Sprewell went on to represent the Warriors in the NBA All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.

After recovering from a knee injury in the previous year, Hardaway’s 1994-95 season was his final full season in Golden State before being traded to the Miami Heat at the deadline in 1996.

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Why Jerry Sloan was different from other NBA coaches

USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt and former Jazz center Mark Eaton discuss the impact Jerry Sloan had not only on the game of basketball but on the lives of people he encountered as well.

USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Zillgitt and former Jazz center Mark Eaton discuss the impact Jerry Sloan had not only on the game of basketball but on the lives of people he encountered as well.