Latest news with #JohnStockton
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Richard Jefferson puts Chris Paul a tier below John Stockton: "I would put him in the same class of point guard as Chauncey Billups"
Richard Jefferson puts Chris Paul a tier below John Stockton: "I would put him in the same class of point guard as Chauncey Billups" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Chris Paul is set to play in his 21st season in the league after he signed a one-year deal to play for the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite this development, it cannot be denied that the Point God's' decorated career is nearing its end. With that, the crew of the "Road Trippin'" recently discussed where Chris stands in the pantheon of all-time great point guards. Former NBA champion and current broadcaster Richard Jefferson acknowledges that, despite his accomplishments, he falls short of the elite status held by John Stockton. Jefferson points out that Stockton's legendary assists record, set over two decades ago, remains a benchmark CP has yet to approach, placing him in a tier below Stockton. On the same level as Billups CP3 and Stockton share similar career paths as elite playmakers and assist machines, yet neither has secured an NBA championship. Both have come agonizingly close, reaching the Finals only to fall short on the sport's grandest stage. However, Jefferson believes the comparison between the two ends there. "I would put him in the same class of point guard as Chauncey Billups, who has one championship, right and won a Finals MVP," he shared. "You would say statistically, Chris Paul had a way better career," Jefferson continued. "But I think in the class of: if this was your point guard, the attributes that you are getting, you would even say Chauncey Billups with going to five straight Conference Finals or four straight Conference Finals and two Finals." "If you look at team success and Chris Paul, he's always had team success, but he's had more team success. So I put him in that tier with those guys," he concluded. Paul has had a remarkable career, amassing 12,499 assists to place second on the all-time list behind Stockton. However, many consider the latter's record to be near-unbreakable as he totaled 15,806 in his 19-year NBA career. As a matter of fact, the next active player on the all-time assists leader list is Russell Westbrook who stands in the eighth spot with 9,925 dimes.A level below the Magics and Stocktons There are levels to greatness in the NBA and it's safe to say that Paul belongs to the second tier. Despite being a highly skilled player with an impressive resume, he falls just short of the all-time greats like Stockton and Magic Johnson. "There's the Magic Johnsons, there's the John Stocktons, there's the Isiah Thomases," Jefferson stated. "Some people have Steph in that point guards [list], some people have him in two guard. I think there's that tier and then I think that there's that next tier." CP has not been done yet, but the proof is in the numbers. Factoring in his average of 7.4 assists per game in 82 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season, CP needs to average that for the next 447 games to reach Stockton's mark. "Let me just say this: CP, great point guard, statistically, all the things," Jefferson expressed. "I would say he's still five, six seasons away from John Stockton on the assist record, right?" While CP continues to make his mark and climb the all-time lists, Stockton's name remains as the mark of excellence, endurance and the ultimate unselfishness. And while his lack of a championship ring may be a stain on his resume, it can never be denied that he was one of the greatest court generals of all story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs legend and Hall of Famer, dies at 65
Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs slugger and second baseman Ryne Sandberg has died, following a battle with prostate cancer. Sandberg died Monday, July 28, the Cubs confirmed. He was 65 years old. Sandberg played in parts of 16 big-league seasons, almost entirely with the Cubs. Sandberg was born Oct. 18, 1959, in Spokane, Washington. He was the youngest of four children of Derwent "Sandy" Sandberg, a mortician, and Elizabeth "Libby" Sandberg, a nurse, according to the Society for American Baseball Research. Sandberg's parents named him for New York Yankees pitcher Ryne Duren, the society reported. At North Central High School in Spokane, Sandberg was a standout in baseball, as well as football and basketball, the society noted, citing local newspaper reports. He received All-America Team honors from Parade Magazine as a quarterback and punter on the school's football team, and received second-team Greater Spokane League basketball honors his junior and senior years, the society reported. On the basketball court, John Stockton, later of the Utah Jazz, was a rival of Sandberg's from Gonzaga Prep High School, the society reported. But of course, it was the baseball diamond that turned out to be Sandberg's calling. In high school, Sandberg made the All-City team twice, hitting .417 with four home runs and helped lead his high school team to a 25-3 record and a second-place finish in the state tournament championship. Major League Baseball scouts already had their eyes on Sandberg when he signed a letter of intent to go to Washington State University on a football scholarship, the society noted. While this was enough to make most scouts lose interest, scouts for the Philadelphia Phillies kept wooing Sandberg, and he ended up choosing baseball over football. The Phillies drafted Sandberg in 1978. He played in the minor leagues first with the Pioneer League in Helena, Montana, and then with Class A Spartanburg in the Western Carolinas League in 1979, the society noted. Sandberg advanced to Double-A reading in 1980 and made the Eastern League All-Star Team. He played in Triple-A Oklahoma City in 1981, before the Phillies called him up to o the majors late that season. Following the 1981 season, the Phillies and Cubs exchanged shortstops — Larry Bowa came to the Cubs in exchange for Iván DeJesus — but Cubs general manager Dallas Green wanted Sandberg too, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In his first season with the Cubs in 1982, Sandberg played third base and hit .271 with 33 doubles and 32 stolen bases. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he finished sixth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. Sandberg was switched to second base for the 1983 season — which the Cubs finished with a record of 71-91, and which is best remembered today for a tirade by manager Lee Elia directed at disrespectful fans. But Sandberg won the first of nine straight Gold Glove Awards that year, the Baseball Hall of Fame noted. In 1984, Jim Frey replaced Elia as the Cubs' manager. Sandberg was a starter for the Cubs alongside other legends such as Jody Davis, Leon Durham, and Keith Moreland. When the Cubs took on the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on June 23, 1984, Sandberg kept driving in runs to overcome an early 7-1 Cubs deficit. But the Cubs were still down 9-8 as the bottom of the ninth began – only for Sandberg to hit a homer and tie it up. The Cubs did not score again in the bottom of the ninth, and the game went into extra innings. St. Louis scored two more runs in the top of the 10th and took an 11-9 lead, but with two out and no one on base, Bob Dernier worked a walk from Sutter - and Sandberg hit another homer to tie the game at 11, according to the Baseball Hal of Fame. The Cubs scored one more time on an RBI single by Dave Owen – and won 12-11. The game became known as the "Ryne Sandberg Game" and propelled the 1984 Cubs toward success that season. The Cubs won the National League Eastern Division championship in '84 – for their first appearance in the postseason since the 1945 World Series. While the Cubs lost the 1984 National League Championship Series 3-2, Sandberg won the National League Most Valuable Player award and made the All-Star roster for the first of 10 times. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Sandberg hit .314 in 1984 and led the NL in runs scored with 114 and triples with 19. In 1989, a season in which the Cubs also won the National League Eastern Division championship, Sandberg reached the 30-homer mark, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. According to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he led the National League with 40 home runs, 116 runs, 344 bases, 100 RBI, and 25 steals in 1990. That year, Sandberg was the first second baseman to lead the National League in home runs since Rogers Hornsby in 1925 and the first second baseman to hit 30 or more home runs in consecutive baseball seasons, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sandberg retired after the 1997 season. Altogether, Sandberg amassed a career .285/.344/.452 slash line (114 OPS+) and notched roughly 68 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball Reference. He was a 10-time All-Star and a winner of nine Gold Glove Awards, seven Silver Slugger Awards, and the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player Award. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, earning more than 76% of the vote in his third year on the ballot. After his retirement, Sandberg served as a spring training instructor with the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. From 2007 until 2010, Sandberg was a manager in the Cubs' minor-league system – first with the Single-A with the Triple-A Iowa Peoria Chiefs, then the Double-A Tennessee Smokies, and finally the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Cubs. When Lou Piniella retired as Cubs manager after the 2010 season, Sandberg was a favorite to take his place. However, Cubs general manager Jim Hendry passed on Sandberg and went with Mike Quade instead. Sandberg then left the Cubs organization and became a minor league manager for the Phillies. He served as Philadelphia's bench coach and then as manager of the Phillies for three seasons from 2013 to 2015. Sandberg won 42.8% of his 278 contests as manager of the Phillies before being removed from the post partway through the 2015 season. Sandberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2024. He underwent treatment and shared he was declared cancer-free in August of that year, but four months later, he let fans know the cancer had come back and spread to other organs. Sandberg did make an appearance at Cubs spring training in Mesa, Arizona, for Cubs Spring Training in February 2025, along with his former teammates Shawon Dunston, Mark Grace, Rick Sutcliffe, and Fergie Jenkins. Cubs Manager Craig Counsell looked like a youngster in awe at Sandberg at the other veterans — and Counsell talked about the icons' stories as what meant so much to him. "People like Ryno, and Hall of Famers, they make an impact like when they step in the room — and that's what Ryno has done for us already," Counsell said. "He's made an impact already." But Sandberg and the group were also imparting their wisdom on young players like Matt Shaw. "That's why we're here. We're here for the players," Sandberg said. With Matt, you know, I had a conversation — I could reflect right back to 1982, and being in camp, and having some minor league seasons under my belt with some success, and, 'OK, now it's the Major Leagues' — just to let him know what I went through, and what it basically was for me to just feel comfortable with what I was doing and feel comfortable with my talents, because that's what got me to that point." In July 2025, Sandberg said he had not been able to be at Wrigley Field as much as he had wanted for the baseball season, but he had been cheering the team on and watching from home.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"The greatest assists man ever to play in the game" - Eddie Johnson explains how John Stockton never overcomplicated his role
"The greatest assists man ever to play in the game" - Eddie Johnson explains how John Stockton never overcomplicated his role originally appeared on Basketball Network. In most cases, when a player begins leading the league in a statistical category or receives widespread praise for their style of play, they often tend to adopt more flair and charisma on the court. This can sometimes detract the players from their efficiency and overall impact. However, Eddie Johnson witnessed firsthand how John Stockton never strayed from his grounded, no-nonsense approach. Despite leading the NBA in assists for nearly a decade, 'Stock' remained composed, quiet, and, most importantly, consistent, ensuring that he transformed the Utah Jazz into a winning organization in the 1990s. Eddie Johnson held high praise for Jazz legend John Stockton Johnson had a legitimate chance of competing for a championship when he landed on the Houston Rockets midway through the 1996-97 regular season. The team even reached the Western Conference Finals, wherein they saw Hakeem Olajuwon register a series-high 27.2 points, Charles Barkley log a double-double average of 16.2 points and 11 rebounds, and Clyde Drexler register 17.8 points per game. Despite those herculean efforts, the Jazz prevailed in the championship round. The Jazz closed out the series in six games, courtesy of Stockton bringing out the best in himself and his teammates. Interestingly, it was not Karl Malone's 23.5 points and 11.5 rebounds that proved to be the difference maker in that series. But the fact that Stockton averaged 20.5 points and 10.3 assists and even brought the likes of Byron Russell and Jeff Hornacek better into the series gave. Put simply, for Eddie - the former Sixth Man of the Year - Stockton's ability to play his role to perfection and not prioritize showboating made him one of the most impactful players of that era. "The greatest assist man ever to play in the game. John was just - Boom! Boom! Right here, when you needed to catch it and knock it in, he was very simple. He simplified," Johnson said. "That's why Jerry Sloan grabbed Stockton out of Gonzaga. Nobody knew who Stockton was. They had a guy on that team - Rickey Green, who was a very good point guard at the time, and John Stockton eventually moved him out, and nobody saw that happen." John Stockton's legacy remains underappreciated Unlike Magic Johnson, whose flashy playmaking added showmanship to his game, Stockton prioritized consistency. His nine consecutive seasons leading the league in assists are a testament to his discipline and dedication. Moreover, for players from that era like Eddie, witnessing Stockton's impact up close only deepened his respect for the value the latter added to the Jazz organization. It's safe to say that had Stockton done more than leading Utah to five Conference Finals in seven years or to two back-to-back NBA Finals, perhaps leading them to a title, it would have changed his legacy forever. Unfortunately for him, as he couldn't attain that success, most in the modern era tend to forget the true level of dominance John Houston Stockton held in his story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
GMA Network
22-07-2025
- Sport
- GMA Network
NBA: Clippers reach 1-year deal with Chris Paul — reports
Paul has averaged 17.0 points and 9.2 assists throughout his Hall of Fame career, which has spanned seven teams, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs this past season. His 2,717 career steals are second only to John Stockton with 3,265./Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images/REUTERS Twelve-time All-Star Chris Paul is returning to the Los Angeles Clippers on a one-year deal for his 21st NBA season, multiple outlets reported Monday. The deal is reportedly worth $3.6 million. Paul, 40, joined Los Angeles leading up to the 2011-12 season, ultimately guiding the Clippers to at least 51 wins in five of his six seasons there. As a franchise, Los Angeles has won 50 or more games just seven times. An All-Star in five of his six seasons there, he ranks first in franchise history with 4,023 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Paul joins a Clippers team that signed Bradley Beal to a two-year deal and also added John Collins and Brook Lopez in free agency. Paul has been named All-NBA 11 times, including four times as a first-team selection -- three while with the Clippers. He has averaged 17.0 points and 9.2 assists throughout his Hall of Fame career, which has spanned seven teams, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs this past season. His 2,717 career steals are second only to John Stockton with 3,265. Paul was drafted No. 4 overall by the then-New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets in the 2005 draft. He won Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 season. — Field Level Media/Reuters
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Frank Layden, beloved Jazz coach and franchise-changing architect, dies at 93
Frank Layden, who coached the Utah Jazz with a colorful presence in the 1980s and was instrumental in building the team's success in the '90s, died at 93, the Jazz announced Wednesday. No cause of death was shared. Layden's time with the Jazz began in 1979 as general manager, when the team was in New Orleans. Two years later, with the team relocated to Salt Lake City, he replaced Tom Nissalke as coach midway through the 1981-82 season, when the Jazz went 25-57. By 1984, Layden had them in the playoffs. Advertisement He won the NBA Coach of the Year and the NBA Executive of the Year awards that season for orchestrating the Jazz's 15-win improvement, anchored by All-Star Adrian Dantley and the recently drafted Mark Eaton. Red Auerbach, Pat Riley and Larry Bird are the only others to win both awards in their careers. But it was shortly after winning his 1984 awards that Layden made the first of his historically key roster moves: drafting John Stockton. With the No. 16 pick in the 1984 draft, the Layden-led front office selected the 6-feet-1 guard who would go on to tally the most assists in NBA history. The following year, Layden made his second historically key call by drafting Karl Malone. Like Stockton, Layden unearthed a future Hall of Famer with a mid-round pick, nabbing the forward with the No. 13 pick. Malone went on to retire with the second-most points in NBA history after 19 seasons. Integral in getting the team to Utah,Coach of the Year,Executive of the Year, Giant in the community,And a pivotal figure in Utah sports history. There was no one like Coach Layden 💜 — Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) July 10, 2025 Layden continued to coach Utah's young core to playoff runs until he promoted assistant Jerry Sloan to replace him as head coach in the in 1988-89 season. Sloan took over the Jazz 17 games into another winning season, as Layden cited burnout as his reason to focus solely on the team's front office. 'Sometimes in the NBA, you feel like a dog. You age seven years in one,' Layden told The Washington Post at the time. 'The pressure in the NBA is intense. It's time to have my time.' With Sloan, Malone and Stockton leading the on-court success and Layden mentoring from the front office, the Jazz continued their playoff streak until 2003. Their trips to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 highlighted that run. Advertisement Before the NBA, Layden began his coaching career by leading Niagara University, his alma mater, for eight years. He then entered the NBA ranks as an assistant coach on his former Niagara teammate Hubie Brown's staff with the Atlanta Hawks. After stepping away from the Jazz in the late '90s, Layden briefly coached the WNBA's Utah Starzz (now the Las Vegas Aces) before quitting for the same reason as a decade before with the Jazz, saying he wanted to 'enjoy life.' Layden enjoyed life as a basketball statesman in Salt Lake City up until his death, appearing at Jazz games and entertaining crowds with his witty storytelling. The Layden family legacy continues in the NBA via Frank's son, Scott. Scott Layden's career began as a Jazz front office assistant under his father in the '80s and has included stints with the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings. 'It was a wonderful time growing up,' Scott told in 2012. 'My dad is a great storyteller. He's a great extemporaneous speaker. And he's noted for being a funny guy. He has a Henny Youngman act.' 'My dad was the ultimate coach,' Scott said.
