Sloan, Stockton and Jordan top this year's list of 16 finalists for possible induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The finalists were announced at a press conference Friday morning, which was held in conjunction with the start of All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.

The names of the finalists will now be forwarded to the Hall of Fame Honors Committee. If an individual receives 18 votes from the 24-member committee, he or she will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2009 will be announced at the Final Four in April, and there is an ironic possibility that Sloan and Stockton will be enshrined with Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to victory over the Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals.

Neither Sloan nor Stockton wanted to talk about their chances at being elected to the Hall of Fame, but both lavishly praised the other and endorsed their candidacy.

"With John, it should be a no-brainer," Sloan said. "He had a tremendous career. Having the opportunity to coach him was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. The way be approached the game ? [and] his approach to winning were unbelievable."

Asked about his Hall of Fame candidacy, Sloan shook his head and said, "I haven't given it much thought, except when other people mention it to me. That's not what I played Basketball for. That's not what I've been in the game for."

Sloan is the fourth winningest coach in NBA history. Now in his 21st season with the Jazz, he is the longest tenured coach in any of the four major sports.

Sloan is also the only coach in NBA history to win over 1,000 games with the same franchise. He's guided the Jazz to 1,025 wins, or 230 more than the legendary Red Auerbach had when he coached the Boston Celtics.

"I am such an admirer, on so many different levels," Stockton said. "To have Jerry get this kind of recognition -- even though he resists it so heavily -- is just outstanding."

Stockton called the possibility of being in the same Hall of Fame class as Sloan "unbelievable," but he downplayed his candidacy.

"I really don't know much about it," Stockton said. "This is second time it's been mentioned to me. The first time, somebody told me they read an article awhile ago that said I was eligible. But I don't really know how the process works and I haven't really thought much about it."

Jazz assistant Scott Layden has worked with Sloan and Stockton. He believes both deserve induction.

"Basketball-wise, Jerry has always done it the right way," Layden said. "He's never compromised his principles or his beliefs. He's never compromised the integrity of the team for his own gain, which happens a lot in this business. ? But more important, he's a Hall of Fame guy -- a wonderful person."

Stockton is the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals. He was a 10-time All-Star with the Jazz and a two-time Olympic gold-medal winner.

Said Layden: "It would be fitting to have a great coach go in with his great point guard. ? Those guys just had such a great bond -- a great relationship. It was something special, a truly unique thing. They were in sync almost all the time. It was something."

The other 13 finalists for induction into the Hall of Fame are Al Attles, Robert Hurley Sr., Dennis Johnson, Bernard King, Chris Mullin, Don Nelson, David Robinson, Richie Guerin, Johnny "Red" Kerr, Cynthia Cooper, Vivian Stringer, ex-Soviet Union coach Vladimir Kondrashin, and former Brazilian star Pereira Maceil.

luhm@sltrib.com