Stockton misses the bus rides News Utah Jazz

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ? There was The Shot Heard Around The Jazz World, and all of those highlight-reel worthy assists and steals during his 19-year NBA career. But what really makes Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton nostalgic about his playing days is thinking back on all of those drives.

And he's not referring to player-splitting drives he made toward the basket. "Certainly there are plays that I remember and victories that I remember," Stockton said Friday at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on the day of his enshrinement. "But the things that are closer to my heart are the bus rides to and from games." Stockton clarified that most of the interesting stuff actually happened on the rides away from the arena. He and teammates were focused before games so it was "pretty quiet." Not so much after the game, when comedy and interesting chats were apparently commonplace. "Coming back from games we had a lot of fun," he said. "You really get to know your teammates, the type of people they are, and have some great conversations." Stockton also talked about bus rides in his enshrinement speech. He laughs about these memories ? now, at least. "Jerry (Sloan) always used to say we have to travel the old yellow school bus once in awhile so that you can appreciate things," Stockton said. "We appreciated things a lot at Gonzaga." The reason, he explained with a laugh, is that the 'Zags' mode of transportation included clunkers, including an oft-broken-down blue military bus and not-exactly reliable vans. "If we could get to a game, we knew we had a chance to win," he joked. MEMORY LANE: Spending time behind the bus driver with teammates certainly isn't Stockton's only fond recollection. "What I miss about the game are the games," he said. "That sounds simple, but it's the truth." All the travel (the non-fun parts), the work, running, drills and preparation for games definitely had a payoff. "To have the honor of playing against David Robinson, ever, and Michael Jordan, ever, I never took that lightly," he said. "I had the opportunity to play against the best people in the world every night. That's what I miss because you can't ever duplicate that." SIZE MATTERS: Stockton claimed Friday that he thought he was a "one-year-and-out guy" after being drafted by the Jazz . It certainly wasn't his talent or athleticism that created uncertainty of his ability to stick around, according to Sloan, who rejoined the Jazz as Frank Layden's assistant shortly after Stockton came to Utah in 1984. It was the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Stockton's size that made some wonder. Oops. "We questioned at that time whether or not he would hold up," Sloan said. "He only played 19 years." He played every game in 17 of those seasons, too. WALLY PIPPED? It didn't take the Jazz too long to figure out they had a big surprise in this small package, either. Stockton played a reserve role behind Rickey Green, a good player in his own right, those first three years. But Sloan was impressed when the Gonzaga product filled in for three games as the starter because of an injury. "(Stockton) played like 47 minutes and didn't break a sweat," Sloan recalled. "He was ready to play whenever he was called on to play. He was a terrific guy ... (a) once-in-a-lifetime guy to coach." Stockton, by the way, set an NBA record for assists when he was finally made the full-time starter in 1987-88. JOB SECURITY: On occasion, Sloan grasps for words to describe the impact Stockton's had on him. The Hall of Fame coach definitely believes he owes a lot to the point guard phenom ? including, perhaps, his extended coaching career. "I can't say enough about what he's been able to do," Sloan said. "He is definitely one of the main reasons why I am here. I don't think he'd let them fire me ? and I wasn't paying him." LOVING LARRY: Both guys paid tribute to Larry H. Miller, who passed away in March, during enshrinement weekend. "Loyalty is the No. 1 reason I'm still coaching the Jazz ," Sloan said. "The confidence Larry showed in us for over 20 years is unparalleled in this business." To wit, 232 coaching changes have taken place in the NBA since Sloan took over for Layden in 1988. "The stability was largely brought on by our owner, Larry Miller," Stockton said. "When the ownership and everybody stands behind coach like they have I you can have a successful team. It allows people to coach ... it allowed us to play. It sure made it cozy and comfortable and really allows you to be all that you can be." RISKY BUSINESS: Stockton admitted ? and appreciates ? how Frank Layden, then Utah's coach and general manager, took a risk by drafting the self-described skinny kid with big feet in 16th overall in 1984. "I'll never forget Hot Rod Hundley's announcement when it was received by the fans. It was a mixture of 'Who?' and boos," Stockton said. He jokingly added, "I almost guarantee I was the only draftee that was still living at home with his parents at the time of the draft, so he was way out there on a limb." QUOTE WORTHY: Hot Rod Hundley earned an honorary spot in the Hall of Fame in 2003 when he was given the Curt Gowdy Award given for electronic and print media contributions. His quick wit also earned him a spot on the Hall's Center Court glass entry where quotes from Basketball legends ? such as Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell ? adorn the glass in big vinyl lettering. The former Los Angeles Laker time-honored quote: "My biggest thrill came the night Elgin Baylor and I combined for 72 points in Madison Square Garden. Elgin had 71 of them." e-mail: jody@desnews.com