Even following the retirement of John Stockton, the phrase "From Stockton to Malone" should represent more than a basketball adroitly passed from John to Karl for a convincing score. In many ways this expression represents opposites in a continuum of sports figure personalities. On one end is the small, on the other large. One end is private, the other public. In the athletic arena, there is the giver, there is the taker. The loyal to the mercenary.
It would be welcome to have Malone say to Miller, "I'd like to end my career in Utah and maybe become the highest scorer in NBA history — though only if it comes with me as a team player. I don't care about the money at this stage of my career. I know you need to rebuild, and I will subordinate my ego to the needs of the team and your vision of the future."
Nice, but let's face it, such behavior would defy the "Stockton to Malone" continuum.
William Taylor
Salt Lake City