Stockton and Sloan worked for Miller for a combined 44 seasons and were never able to win him an NBA championship. But they rose to the pinnacle of their profession through hard work, determination and consistency.

Miller often declared that those were the values he wanted associated with his franchise, so the fact that Stockton and Sloan comprise 40 percent of this year's five-member Hall of Fame class would likely have been something he cherished.

Sloan and Stockton's selection to the Hall of Fame was first reported by The Salt Lake Tribune over the weekend.

Sloan was with his team in Dallas on Monday. He was unable to attend the Hall of Fame announcement and news conference in Detroit, site of the Final Four.

Stockton, however, made the journey from his Spokane, Wash., home and called his first-ballot induction "a great honor" that made him think back on all the people in his life who "helped me become a better player and person."

The group included his family, friends, coaches, teammates, teachers and even opposing players.

"Too many to count," Stockton said. "... There are a lot of people I owe a debt of gratitude."

The 16th overall pick in the 1984 draft, Stockton spent his entire 19-year career with the Jazz.

He finished as the NBA's all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265). In addition, he was a 10-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medal winner. He missed only 22 games because of injury or illness in his career.

According to Stockton, entering the Hall of Fame with Sloan made the honor even more significant.

"Anything in my life I can do with Jerry Sloan is a huge bonus," Stockton said. "... He is not only my coach and mentor, but he's a great friend, too."

Laughing, Stockton claims some of the best times he has shared with his ex-coach have come while helping Sloan pull tree stumps or harvest a crop on his farm in McLeansboro, Ill.

"I am delighted to share this honor with him," he said.

Stockton credited "my family that I grew up with" as being the biggest influence in his life.

He recalled losing "about 1,000 games" of one-on-one to his older brother, Steve. When he finally won a game, Stockton said, it was the last time the two played.

"One and 1,000 is not a very good record," he said.

The lesson learned?

Keep trying.

Sloan enters the Hall of Fame as the fourth-winningest coach in NBA history. He is the only coach with more than 1,000 wins with the same franchise.

Joining Stockton and Sloan at the induction ceremonies Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., will be this year's other three inductees -- Michael Jordan, David Robinson and C. Vivian Stringer.

luhm@sltrib.com