“You’ve done a lot for basketball all over the world” – Magic Johnson once gave a special tribute to John Stockton originally appeared on Basketball Network.
John Stockton is frequently overlooked when discussing the most impactful NBA players of the 1990s. However, for someone like Magic Johnson, who witnessed the transformation of the Utah Jazz organization firsthand, Stock’s contributions were undeniable.
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He not only helped elevate Utah from a struggling franchise to a consistent Western Conference powerhouse, but also inspired an entire generation – proving that even undersized point guards could be the most impactful players on the court despite not topping the scoring charts.
Magic Johnson paid a high tribute to John Stockton
Prior to Stockton’s arrival in 1984, the Jazz had only made one playoff appearance. From the moment he joined, Utah became a model of consistency, never missing the playoffs during his tenure there. In the process, in 1992, Stock led the Jazz to their first-ever appearance in the Western Conference Finals. Many felt that that could very well be the ceiling for this team. But the 10-time All-Star led the team to four more conference finals over the next six years, and twice even into the championship round; all while leading the league in assists and averaging over 14 points per game.
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Johnson recognized firsthand how Stockton’s leadership, basketball IQ and unselfish play elevate the Jazz into a winning franchise. Beyond the statistical miracles, such as leading the league in assists for nine consecutive seasons, Magic acknowledged how Stockton taught a generation of undersized guards never to give up and how courage and acumen could prove invaluable in becoming a star.
“I want to say to you that you’ve not only done a lot for Utah Jazz organization and the NBA,” Johnson said about Stockton in an interview. “But you’ve done a lot for basketball all over the world with your floor leadership, your passing and just with your competitive nature.”
John Stockton deserves more credit as a leader
It is true that failing to win a championship, particularly due to consecutive Finals losses against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, has affected the way some view Stockton’s legacy as a leader and, more importantly, a superstar of that era. Yet, what cannot be denied is the profound impact he had on the Jazz organization and its fans.
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He instilled a culture of winning and professionalism that endured throughout his career. And for those who faced him, like Magic, who saw Stockton average 16.4 assists per game in their 1998 playoff matchup, they knew that Stockton was all about pure greatness.
Stockton never tilted his game towards flashiness or trying to hog the spotlight; rather, he always kept things simple to bring the best out of his teammates, helping them attain individual accolades while making sure no team took the Jazz lightly during that entire decade.
When an all-time great like Magic goes above and beyond to acknowledge the greatness and impact of another point guard, that shows the true value they had during their playing days and how everyone in the league recognized it.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.