Ex-Jazz PG John Stockton Pinpoints Difference Between His & Modern NBA

Key players missing games has been a recurring theme for the Utah Jazz. Over the last two seasons, Lauri Markkanen will have missed 44 games, and assuming Jordan Clarkson is done for the year, he will have missed a total of 48 contests.

Ex-Jazz great John Stockon only missed 22 games over 19 seasons. So, what was the key to Stockton being one of the most durable players in NBA history? Stockton sounded off on the topic when he joined The Perimeter Podcast with ex-NBA player Adam Morrison. Although the interview took place two years ago, the topic sure does apply to what Jazz fans are going through today.

“So, sprained ankle, I'm supposed to be out 6-8 weeks, and I’m back tomorrow. A little bit sore but completely stable and functional, and I can play on this. So, some people wouldn’t deal with the discomfort of getting treated. There’s probably an adjustment, which is taboo in the medical world, a side adjustment, and some muscle work, and I’m back. I watch it time and time again, which is scientific, but it doesn't meet the scientific burden that guys have to live within the medical model.”

Indeed, we live in a different age, and playing all 82 games is certainly not the norm. With a watered-down regular season of games becoming less important and tanking becoming normalized, it’s no wonder players take the side of caution regarding playing through injuries. 

The NBA is the only major sport in which franchises can have a pretty good idea of which teams are playoff-bound early in the season. So, being healthy to start a playoff run has become more important than seeding. 

Then there’s the tanking for draft position, which Jazz fans have been getting familiar with since the rebuild started last year. Stockton comes from a day In which Utah was competitive year in and year out. Tanking did exist back then (Tim Duncan), but it's certainly reached an all-time high in this day and age. 

Moving forward, it appears nothing will change in the near future. Viewership is up from last season, and until fans stop watching the game, don't expect the bottom dwellers to put their best foot forward with draft positioning at stake. 

Is this the answer for the Jazz? It's a topic that Jazz fans appear to be divided on. In the current season, the Jazz were rewarded a late first-round and early second-rounder for their efforts. They also won't convey their first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder this season. However, they most likely would have kept it anyway, but with worse lottery odds. Time will tell on whether cashing in the 2023-24 season was worth it.

That said, we can appreciate what Stockton and Karl Malone (who missed 10 career games) did over their Hall of Fame careers. The NBA will most likely never see a player that comes close to those numbers again.

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