“One of the greatest players to ever play the game” – Scottie Pippen shared his deep admiration for John Stockton originally appeared on Basketball Network.
During the Chicago Bulls’ iconic second three-peat, if there was one team that posed a legitimate threat to their dominance, it was undoubtedly the Utah Jazz.
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Facing off against the Bulls in back-to-back NBA Finals, the Jazz came agonizingly close on both occasions, ultimately falling in six games each time. However, those who watched those series closely knew the pressure was immense, as it wasn’t like Chicago steamrolled past their opponents.
Interestingly, despite the high stakes and intensity, Scottie Pippen couldn’t help but acknowledge the greatness of John Stockton. Though Pippen knew Stock was a real thorn in his team’s ambitions, he marveled at the latter’s basketball IQ and fearlessness on both ends of the court that transformed the Jazz into a winning organization.
“Very pesty, but you know, probably one of the greatest players to ever play the game in his position,” Pippen said about Stockton. “That’s on both ends of the floor.”
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Pippen knew Stockton and Malone were special
In the 1997 NBA Finals, the John Stockton and Karl Malone tandem was nothing short of remarkable. While ‘Stock’ averaged a solid 15 points per game, it was his orchestration of the offense through 8.8 assists per game that truly set the tone.
His vision, playmaking and decision-making allowed Byron Russell and Jeff Hornacek to both average double figures in scoring, while Karl Malone poured in 23.8 points per game. Put simply, the Jazz offense was flowing, poised and well-synchronized.
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Then came the 1998 NBA Finals. Despite the Bulls knowing what to expect from Malone and Stockton’s tandem, they couldn’t do much to counter it. While Stockton continued to be the team’s engine, averaging 8.7 assists per game, Malone averaged an even better 25 points per game.
According to Pippen, what made the duo so exceptional was not just their stats, but the way they synergized so seamlessly. Regardless of what defensive schemes the Bulls threw at them – be it traps, doubles or off-ball switches- Stockton and Malone complemented each other to near perfection.
Pippen admitted that this duo’s chemistry created a type of inevitability; it was not about stopping them, but only trying to minimize the damage they inflicted.
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“Two guys that are capable of winning games by themselves, that’s at any age,” Pippen added. “They (are) the greatest screen-roll players I’ve ever seen in the game.”
Malone and Stockton are among the greatest duos in NBA history
While some may rank Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, or Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, above Stockton and Malone due to their championship success, the lack of a ring does little to diminish what the Utah duo brought to the floor.
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The fact that they lost both Finals to arguably the greatest basketball dynasty ever, led by Michael Jordan and Pippen himself, should not overshadow the immense pressure they applied to the Bulls.
That is precisely why Pippen’s praise carries weight. Even though Malone and Stockton do not have a ring to showcase their success, everyone in the league knew that it was going to be a nightmare experience every time these two set foot on the court together.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.