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As his book tour continues, John Stockton finds himself back in the spotlight.
Don't expect him to seek it out much longer.
The Hall of Fame point guard says he's more interested in coaching his 12-year-old son Sam than an NBA team at this point in his life.
"I wouldn't rule anything out, but I'm enjoying what I'm doing," he said when asked if he would consider an increased role with the team. "… It would be impossible if I had a job like coaching."
As Stockton's book tour stopped in Salt Lake City on Friday, he found himself back at EnergySolutions Arena, where he held a morning news conference and watched a few minutes of the Jazz's pre-game shootaround.
Stockton said he couldn't put into words how much his old coach, Jerry Sloan, meant to him. But the two weren't without their disputes, Stockton said, specifically mentioning Sloan's efforts to limit his minutes later in his career.
"That was one of the things we fought about," Stockton said. "I didn't want to play forever. I wanted to try to win this whole thing and go off into the sunset, so to speak. He felt like he had a duty to the organization to try to preserve us and have us around for a longer time. … We argued about it, but he won. I would have probably gone a different route."
The elder statesman
Speaking of Stockton, most of the players on this Jazz team only ever saw him play on television. That's why small forward Richard Jefferson earned a few laughs from his younger teammates Friday.
"They always laugh when I tell them about the guys I've played against," the 33-year-old Jefferson said. "Playing against Hakeem Olajuwon, playing against [Michael] Jordan. [Stockton] is one of those guys I was fortunate enough to play against."
Nice to see you again
Spurs coach Greg Popovich and Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey, a former assistant GM in San Antonio, shared a hug outside the Spurs' locker room before Friday's game.
"He's somebody who is unique because he really understands the coaching side and what coaches go through and what they're trying to accomplish," Popovich told reporters just minutes before Lindsey appeared, "and at the same time has got a great feel for the game, for talent. He's got great vision."
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