John Stockton spoke in a recent interview with Andrew Bernstein of Legends of Sports about his time with the iconic Dream Team in 1992. He noted that he didn’t even believe it when he first got the call from Team USA officials and that players like him wouldn’t have been considered for a spot on the team.
“Oddly enough the first memory is getting the call. Guys like me don’t get those calls, and I remember receiving that call and kind of, thinking it was a surprise or a joke. I remember saying ‘I’m going to have to check with the team, I’ll have to check with my wife, a couple of things like that.”
“I remember there was a pause on the other end of the phone, it was Rod Thorn. I don’t think he understood what he was asking, that I understood it. I called back, obviously, in a hurry and that was quite a thrill, to be asked to be a part of that team.”
(2:10 onward)
Stockton would end up playing a bit-part role on the team, averaging just 2.8 points, 2.0 assists, and 0.3 rebounds as he only got about 7.3 minutes per game in the 4 games he was allowed to play. Nonetheless, his role on the team was important, as he helped the team earn a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.
Stockton wasn’t going to be a starter on the team, considering that legendary point guard Magic Johnson was on the roster, and he would be trusted to start given the cache he had built up in his career.
Stockton seemed to have a good time in Barcelona, with him sharing a hilarious video of him walking the streets of Barcelona, with no one recognizing him.
But being on the team would have still been an incredible experience for Stockton, who got to win his first gold medal at the Olympics. He would get to play a more prominent role at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, as Team USA won gold once again.
John Stockton Can’t Give LeBron James Any Advice
John Stockton was also asked in the same interview about his longevity in the NBA, playing till the age of 41, and what advice he would give LeBron James, who turns 40 next season, as he tries to elongate his career and add to his legacy. Stockton praised LeBron but didn’t think he could give him any advice, as he has done it his way.
“I don’t know if I’d give anybody advice. Everybody has their own path of trying to prepare and get it done. Clearly, LeBron has been one of the all-timers, just the numbers are there, you can’t object.”
Stockton has been known for his humility, and his choosing not to give LeBron James any advice is unsurprising. Despite this, James would surely want to know from Stockton, considered one of the greatest passers of all time, what the secret to his longevity is.
LeBron James might go down as the greatest player of all time, and a large part of that would be due to his longevity, and his sustained success over the years. LeBron playing as long, if not longer than John Stockton, makes his career, perhaps the best ever.
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