John Stockton reveals why he loved playing in Portland: "It wasn't just we hate you because you are the other team, there was appreciation for good play"

John Stockton reveals why he loved playing in Portland: “It wasn’t just we hate you because you are the other team, there was appreciation for good play” originally appeared on Basketball Network.

NBA fans can be rowdy and annoying, but for John Stockton, the Portland Trail Blazers faithful is a different breed. According to the Utah Jazz legend, the city embraces good basketball more than any other he has visited, and often shows love for their team and the visiting ballclub.

“I actually enjoyed going to Portland,” Stockton told Cait Nielson of “The Ultimate Assist.” “I have friends there, we played there in college at the same building. It seemed like the fans there appreciated (good basketball). It wasn’t just, ‘Hey, we hate you because you’re the other team.’ There was an appreciation for good play, whether it was their team or your team.”

“I guess there was something about it and was closer to home, too,” added the NBA’s all-time leader in assists and steals.

Mixing business and pleasure

Stockton’s opinion on Portland shows a sincere recognition of the fans, especially since the Jazz has a losing record against the Trail Blazers in the playoffs. During the Karl Malone-Stockton era in Salt Lake City, Utah faced Portland six times in the postseason and won only twice.

Outside of the fans, Stock evidently favors the city because of nostalgia and personal reasons. Since he was from Spokane, Washington and played college ball at Gonzaga University, the Bulldogs are in the same conference (WCC) as the University of Portland. Inter-conference games usually feature a double-round robin format, so Stockton was already familiar with the city before coming to the NBA.

The Hall of Fame point guard favored Portland because of its proximity to his hometown of Spokane (compared to other NBA cities). It is less than a six-hour drive away, which means Stockton may have some of his family come over and watch their games at the Rose Garden for a mini-reunion.

Moreover, Stockton admittedly was not the type to go out and scour the road cities for nightlife. Portland has a more laid-back social scene than other popular destinations like New York, Los Angeles and Miami, so he fits right into Rip City’s mellow rhythm. It’s an environment that matches his personality as much as his playing style.

Two of Stockton’s best games were against Portland

Beyond the personal reasons, though, it was apparent that Stockton was comfortable enough to play his game whenever he was up against the Blazers. According to StatMuse, John averaged 14.2 points, 11.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 31 playoff games against Portland.

One of those contests featured an epic point guard showdown against Rod Strickland during the 1996 postseason. The two Western Conference darkhorses figured in a first-round matchup, which ended in a 3-2 series win for the Jazz. (The first round was still a five-game series at the time.)

Game 1 was an absolute masterpiece, made more memorable because of Stockton. He dropped 23 dimes, tied for second-most assists in a single playoff game, while Strickland registered 27 points, seven boards and 12 assists. The Jazz point guard averaged 14.4 assists over five games.

Years earlier, Stockton had another historic game on his resume at the Blazers’ expense. He tallied 17 points and 26 assists in the 1987-88 season against Portland, one of only six times someone registered those numbers. Impressively, Stockton tallied at least 17 and 26 three times over his career!

For Stockton, playing in Portland was as much about the atmosphere as the competition. The city gave him a rare combination of familiarity and respect. The fans appreciated skill no matter the jersey, and it felt close to home. It’s no surprise that some of his most memorable games came there.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.

John Stockton reveals why he loved playing in Portland: “It wasn’t just we hate you because you are the other team, there was appreciation for good play”

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