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Assisted: An Autobiography

by John Stockton , Kerry L Pickett

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 374 ratings · 113 reviews

Foreword by Karl Malone

A fast, gritty, durable player who could read a basketball floor as well as anyone who ever played the game, John Stockton left the NBA after nineteen seasons with the Utah Jazz, holding a massive assist record, including the career mark (15,806). He also twice led the league in steals—with a career total of 3,265—and retired as the NBA’s all-time le

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Kindle Edition , 400 pages

Published October 15th 2013 by Shadow Mountian

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Jan 12, 2015 James Briggs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wish I could give this 12 stars!!! Not just in memory of a childhood hero, but because this book was really that good! It's been sitting in my book shelf since I got it signed by John Stockton himself! And so I finally decided that I would pick this one up and read it!
This book brought back so many memories from the better parts of growing up! I wanted nothing more than to be the next John Stockton! I looked up to him so much, and to this day he is my all time favorite player and probably athl I wish I could give this 12 stars!!! Not just in memory of a childhood hero, but because this book was really that good! It's been sitting in my book shelf since I got it signed by John Stockton himself! And so I finally decided that I would pick this one up and read it!
This book brought back so many memories from the better parts of growing up! I wanted nothing more than to be the next John Stockton! I looked up to him so much, and to this day he is my all time favorite player and probably athlete. I don't remember all the reasons, but the one that stands out is that he was short, just like me!
But enough of the reminiscing! This book is a 12 star book for reasons beyond the fact that I loved John Stockton growing up. Stockton, was/is so real! He was/is so humble, so kind, so loving, so grateful, so inspiring, and so wise, just to name a few! The book wasn't as much about John Stockton as it was about those who have had a profound effect on his life, and sharing his extreme gratitude for them. I have always known that he was a down to earth great guy. But this book all his colors really shined!
This book really helped/reminded me focus on the more important things in life. It's not always about what is at the end of the tunnel or if we win. It's the journey that we all go on, that is truly important! That throughout this journey we live our lives the best to our ability, always seeking to improve ourselves and those around us! I have a new and greater respect for Stockton than I ever have before. To accompany that, I have dozens of quotes that I've taken from his book, and the desire to share this book with everyone! ESPECIALLY and Jazz fan!
John Stockton would never say this himself, and he doesn't even allude to it in his book! But John is a remarkable man, worthy of praise and the role model his was for me growing up. ...more

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May 27, 2015 Patrick Schultheis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love John Stockton and am glad I read this book. The book is truly a window into Mr Stockton's life, experience and viewpoints.

Two nits: First, Mr Stockton says that he will not write a "tell all" about the NBA locker room and associated matters. Ok - I respect that. He did not want this to be "Ball Four." However, I think he should have been more explicit and detailed about his experiences, even if he was critical of others. Just my opinion.

Second, the book would have benefitted from a real ...more

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Sep 22, 2013 Rhonda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

5 STARS

I found myself reading and enjoying to get to know more about the player John Stockton. It also brought lots of memories to my mind.
Like the shot that sent them to the finals. Had to wear purple that week. How when I used to watch the Jazz games my little girl loved it when they announced Stockton to Malone.

This is a easy to follow book. I did not want to put it down. I liked how hard he worked and the values that John Stockton has. It shows some good insights in life lessons.

This is a bo

5 STARS

I found myself reading and enjoying to get to know more about the player John Stockton. It also brought lots of memories to my mind.
Like the shot that sent them to the finals. Had to wear purple that week. How when I used to watch the Jazz games my little girl loved it when they announced Stockton to Malone.

This is a easy to follow book. I did not want to put it down. I liked how hard he worked and the values that John Stockton has. It shows some good insights in life lessons.

This is a book for sports fans, for inspiring people of all ages to go for your dreams with hard work. For the young and old. For men and woman to enjoy. I think a broad range of people will enjoy John's story.

As a fan of Jazz basketball thank you for your hard work. We are glad you played in Utah for so long. You represented the Jazz and USA Dream teams well.

I admit to stop watching the Jazz after you than Karl left. It was not as much fun without you.
I liked getting to know your family better and how important they are to you. Thanks for letting us see your journey and meeting your friends.

I liked the background of how much it meant to be on the Olympics team meant for you. I find it hard to believe that no one recognized you in Spain. Especially wearing a t-shirt with your picture on it.

It was fun to see the pictures. Hear the stories and see how technology is changing the game. Too see how much you love the game and how it was always watching and learning to be better.

I was given this ebook to read by NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing and asked in return to give honest review of it.

Pub Date Oct. 29, 2013 Shadow Mountain Publishing 400 pages ISBN:9781609075705 ...more

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Jan 16, 2014 J B rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recommend

I loved this book! I've always been a fan of Stockton the basketball player, but knew little about him as a person due to his quiet, private nature. This book provides more insight into John Stockton as a person. I truly admire his work ethic and attitude. It was also great to hear some of his experiences on the two Olympic teams he was on, as well as his two shots at the NBA finals, and the road getting there. I totally recommend this to any fan of Stockton and the golden era of the Utah jazz. ...more

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Jan 18, 2015 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My superhero Utah Jazz point guard provides a nostalgic look back to the time our family lived in Logan, Utah and followed and rooted for the Jazz. He is without fail, kind to all who were a part of his life then. I have good memories of the Jazz twice coming so close to an NBA championship.. Personalities such as Karl Malone, Jerry Sloan, Thurl Bailey, and Mark Eaton are well described and thanked by Stockton. An enjoyable read.

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Jun 06, 2014 Brett Swanson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Going into this book, I knew I would enjoy it. John Stockton was one of my favorite basketball players. However, I didn't realize I would enjoy it as much as I did. If you're a basketball fan, I would say it's a must read. Stockton gives you his account of everything that transpired in his career, including stories of his unique contract negotiants with Larry Miller, different stories about his two stints in the Olympic team, as well as some humorous stories about different games, coaches, and p ...more

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Jun 11, 2015 Matt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Credit Stock for actually writing the book himself. He has to be the only top athlete to ever do that.

However, precisely because he wrote the book, it's not a very good read.

Unless you're a diehard Jazz fan and Stockton lover, as I am, you're going to be disappointed. He spends the first half the book talking about his upbringing. This is always boring even with well-written books (the only exception I know of is Andre Agassi's autobiography). He doesn't tell many stories. And he doesn't really Credit Stock for actually writing the book himself. He has to be the only top athlete to ever do that.

However, precisely because he wrote the book, it's not a very good read.

Unless you're a diehard Jazz fan and Stockton lover, as I am, you're going to be disappointed. He spends the first half the book talking about his upbringing. This is always boring even with well-written books (the only exception I know of is Andre Agassi's autobiography). He doesn't tell many stories. And he doesn't really talk much about games, important milestones in his career, or anything you'd expect him to write about.

It's a lot about his family, what it was like moving to Utah, the sightseeing he did while in Barcelona for the Olympics, his conditioning... Basically all the stuff that happened around basketball -- not basketball itself.

This isn't to say the book was an absolute snoozer. The chapter about his decision to retire was really interesting. Surprisingly, one of the reasons was that he didn't relate to the younger players and felt lonely. Apparently in the old days you really bonded with your teammates on the road. Now it's all smartphones and headphones.

It was also interesting to see how different he is from your typical athlete. He's always lived well within his means, has a great marriage and family life, did his own contract negotiations (and even made the Jazz pay him less than they offered), and was quasi-obsessive with conditioning.

Last but not least, as an avid waterskier and pro lifer, it was great to hear that he loves waterskiing and hates abortion.

But overall, it could have been a lot more interesting. Why not just tell story after story about teammates and opponents? Why not reveal the day to day life of an NBA player? Tell us about some of your tips and tricks to getting ahead in basketball and in life.

Maybe it would have been better to have a ghostwriter after all.

...more

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May 10, 2015 Nolan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: public-library , kindle-purchases

Almost drowned out by the disturbing news of our day of troubled athletes noted more for their time in trial court than on the basketball court is this refreshing, well-written biography of an NBA great who is even more stellar off the court in terms of the messages he offers here--messages backed up by a life well lived.

John Stockton gives you the best seat in the arena as you journey with him from Spokane to Salt Lake, from Barcelona to Atlanta, from rookie to seasoned pro, from being a new da Almost drowned out by the disturbing news of our day of troubled athletes noted more for their time in trial court than on the basketball court is this refreshing, well-written biography of an NBA great who is even more stellar off the court in terms of the messages he offers here--messages backed up by a life well lived.

John Stockton gives you the best seat in the arena as you journey with him from Spokane to Salt Lake, from Barcelona to Atlanta, from rookie to seasoned pro, from being a new dad to looking back on fatherhood as an indispensable part of his life.

If you download this assuming you're going to get a steamy trash-talking tell-all about the NBA as it existed for the nearly two decades Stockton played in it, you're about to be hugely disappointed. Additionally, you won't read about large egos that demanded larger-than-life salaries or about coaches who weren't worthy of the time of players who were so good they didn't need the coaches. If that's the kind of story you're looking for, move on; there's nothing to see here. Instead, you'll get an autobiography that emphasizes the value of winning at life over winning on the court. Read this and learn how one remarkable man applied refreshingly clear and impressive life lessons to his years in the NBA--years that were successful by every measure because those life lessons were so well applied.

There is a thoughtful chapter here on fame that fascinated me. Stockton addresses the ups and downs of an NBA career and its impact on the player's family. There are thoughtful passages here about the changes in the league, many of which have been driven by changes in technology. He talks about team buses and charter air flights that are ultimately less companionable because of the existence and ubiquitous nature of wireless phones and similar devices.

I was particularly touched by the chapter in which Stockton recalls negotiating with then-Jazz owner Larry Miller. The two developed such a position of trust that they ultimately wrote on pieces of paper the salary each thought was fair. The number on at least one occasion was the same, and the negotiations ended quickly and with everyone happy. I suspect that's a rarity these days.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I confess to have been a fan of professional basketball in Utah since the days of the red-white-and-blue ball league--the glory days of Utah's ABA franchise. So this book was one I am hard wired to like. But it's well enough written that you don't need to even enjoy basketball to thoroughly enjoy this book.

If I could sum this up in just a few words, I'd say that this is a labor of love and gratitude. It almost feels like this is written as a way to say thanks to the fans who were so supportive, to his fellow players and coaches who made the Jazz organization of the '80s and '90s so successful. There is no profanity in here; no steamy sexual descriptions of off-court antics on Stockton's part or that of the guys with whom he played. You can, and should, share this with any person of any age who is inspired by a down-to-earth biography of a decent human being who was raised well and who sought to pass those lessons on to his children--children whom he clearly loves.

The poetry at the front of each chapter is what it is, and it doesn't detract at all from the otherwise excellent nature of the book. It's highly readable and well worth your time and effort. ...more

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May 04, 2015 Reggie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography , non-fiction

I grew up watching Jazz basketball in the glory days of Stockton and Malone. John Stockton is my favorite NBA player ever.

The stories and perspective in this book are great. The writing is decent.

His drive for hard work and improvement really show through. I was impressed at how much he put family first during his demanding career.

To me Stockton was clearly the best point guard of all time, so I was surprised that he never gave a hint of feeling anything akin to that thought. I kept waiting f ...more

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Mar 27, 2014 Naessens rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My review cannot be objective as John Stockon was (one of) my favourite basketball player(s) when I was a teenager.
First, let me remind you that this book is an autobiography rather than a retrospective of his NBA career. It focuses more on John Stockton as a human being and the people close to him who shaped his personality than in-game anecdotes. Yet, I can understand some readers wish there had been more content about his NBA career. For example, I don't remember he mentions something on his ...more

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Nov 10, 2014 Tanya W rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For me, probably more like 3.5 stars since I got bored at times, especially with some of the sports aspect.

I really liked learning more about John Stockton and the things that made him such a great basketball player and a great person. I feel that we were lucky in Utah to have him be a part of the Jazz team so long as well as an outstanding member of the community.

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Mar 21, 2014 Melinda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Throughout his professional career, John Stockton continued to be at the top of my favorite NBA players. This book caused me to appreciate him even more both on and off the court. His reason to write this autobiography was by no means self-aggrandizing; rather "to recognize and thank the people who have had a significant impact in my life". He remains positive, grateful and humble as he accomplishes just that - he praises his fellow Jazz teammates, coaches, owners and assistants for the heartfel ...more

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Mar 02, 2014 Reedblackburn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Flew through the book in about a week. Stockton along with Ryne Sandberg where my two childhood heroes as sports stars (in this book I learned they played against each other in a high school basketball game in Washington, imagine that!). This book did nothing to diminish my thoughts of John Stockton.

In a World filled with Greed Stockton stayed humble, hard-working, and gracious throughout. Some parts of the book that stick out in my mind that show his character
-His friendships with teammates. He Flew through the book in about a week. Stockton along with Ryne Sandberg where my two childhood heroes as sports stars (in this book I learned they played against each other in a high school basketball game in Washington, imagine that!). This book did nothing to diminish my thoughts of John Stockton.

In a World filled with Greed Stockton stayed humble, hard-working, and gracious throughout. Some parts of the book that stick out in my mind that show his character
-His friendships with teammates. He seemed to especially love Mark Eaton, Thurl Bailey, Jeff Hornacek, Adam Keefe, and of course Karl Maloine.
-He doesn't ever dish dirt out on anyone
-The book is not focused on basketball like you might think, but more on family, childhood, friends, and relationships
-He never mentions his personal accomplishments, everything is team oriented. HIs assist and steal record are never mentioned, yet writes a short paragraph about each of his teammates of the 1997 finals team and how much he enjoyed each of them.
-Offers some interesting opinions that align right with mine, including the importance of family, being against abortion, the role of a mother
-Stingy with money. I am that way too. He was especially stingy his first year when he rented a basement apartment and bought very limited furniture b/c he didn't think he'd stick around for more than one year. If I remember right the Jazz lent him a car his first year.
-His contract negotiations. They really stalled at one time because STockton hired a high profile agent. John got sick of the negotiations, called up Larry Miller and chatted with him. Larry said how much do you think you're worth? WRite it on a paper. I will do the same. THey exchanged papers and the amount was the same. The contract was finished very quickly after that.
-He loved his families. He talked more about his summers off with his six kids then he did about his basketball with the jazz. He loved mountain biking, running, and water skiing.
-He loved to compete, which included practice. He set a one mile record in Washington in High school. He also had yearly competitions with Karl Malone about who could come into camp in better shape. Every year they came into camp at between 1 and 3% body fat. That's less than Michael Phelps and is really unbelievable. From another review of the book it states-During their Jazz tenures, John and Karl competed for lowest body fat…until the training staff determined that both their body fat levels had plummeted below “safe levels.” Both of them consistently stayed in the 1-3 percent body fat range.
-His relationship with his older brother steve was funny. STeve was 4 years his elder and always giving him a hard time.
-Never mentions his own success in high school or college. He talks about his teams, but not himself.
_gracous about everyone, including trainers, teammates, coaches, opponents (Isiah Thomas) :), nuns who helped raise him, friends and everybody in his life.
-Loved the two chapters about the 92 and 96 dream teams he played on. These are the chapters most focused on basketball, and still it is mixed with plenty of family.

If you're looking for a tell all that dishes dirt and talks a lot about basketball the books not for you. If you want a athlete to admire and have your kids look up to where character development, hard work, and persistence are more important than money, fame, or championships this is what you want ...more

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Feb 28, 2014 Bryan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was enjoyable but it is not really about the basketball life of John Stockton. This book is written like a life history for his kids and grand kids. It goes into details about all of the people who shaped his life as a human, many times downplaying what actually happened on the court. There are surprisingly few stories about actual games or basketball experiences. Never in the book does it mention his career numbers or accomplishments. I understand that Stockon is a modest guy and puts ...more

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Jul 25, 2014 Jesse Booth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014

John Stockton has been my favorite basketball player of all time. I grew up watching him play on my small TV, and even enjoyed going to many games at the Delta Center to watch him and the Mailman put on their show!

This book delves into how John became who he is today, and touches on many personal events that most people don't know about him. I'm glad I read the book; his dry sense of humor was great and the writing was well done.

John gives a lot of sage advice (all of which he learned from his p ...more

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Aug 12, 2014 Amanda Thompson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014 , non-fiction , bio

"...if my experiences inspire or encourage you to never give up, then writing this book will have been worth it."
So John Stockton ends his encouraging and illuminating autobiography, and rest assured, his time spent working on this book was worth it, at least as far as this reader is concerned.

Just the title of this autobiography -Assisted- reveals so much about John Stockton's character. This is a book about and dedicated to the many individuals Mr. Stockton feels are responsible for helping to "...if my experiences inspire or encourage you to never give up, then writing this book will have been worth it."
So John Stockton ends his encouraging and illuminating autobiography, and rest assured, his time spent working on this book was worth it, at least as far as this reader is concerned.

Just the title of this autobiography -Assisted- reveals so much about John Stockton's character. This is a book about and dedicated to the many individuals Mr. Stockton feels are responsible for helping to shape his career and mold his character. The entire book is an enjoyable read, not so much a tell-all as reflections on friends, experiences, and lessons learned by the small-town boy with the homegrown values.

I'm very leery about reading bios of celebrities I admire because, while they may excel in my estimation for their particular skill, other parts of their personalities and/or lives tend to disappoint. I experienced no such let-down here. While mostly reflections on the journey his career has taken him on, Mr. Stockton does share some thoughts on personal opinions such as the benefits of brutal competition and hard work sports should teach children and the down sides of increasingly invasive technology.

A few gems of advice I most appreciated from Mr. Stockton:
"Don't change who you are now that you've 'arrived'."
"The best you can ever be is yourself. If you try to be someone else, you will likely fail."
"Stay within your abilities but display those abilities as well as you can."
There is a whole chapter about handling fame and fans that I found especially interesting. Mr. Stockton, as a private person, admits he's made mistakes in this area, but I think here he becomes an even greater role model. Despite constant exposure to the public eye, he's managed to retain his own values and raise a healthy family who can do the same.

Never mind the fact that I'm a Utah girl, or a Jazz baby having the privilege to grow up during the team's Golden Age. Never mind that Hot Rod Hundley's distinctive voice crying 'Stockton-to-Malone!' was a vital piece of my childhood soundtrack or that John Stockton with his short-shorts was my first idol, if not role model. Even if you're not Utah born-and-bred or a Jazz fan -even if you're not that big into basketball- there is still a lot of good advice here. If you're looking for someone to tell you 'Work hard and don't give up,' look no further than this book. ...more

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Jan 25, 2014 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I had to bet my life on a basketball game and I was allowed to magically combine players from all eras, my backcourt would consist of Stockton and Jordan, with Bird, LeBron, and Kareem in the frontcourt. The greatest point guard of all time never mentions his assists or steals records, and though he admits the disappointments of losing two NBA finals to the Bulls, the questionable refereeing in Game 6 of 1998 doesn't come up. I really don't think the guy ever cared about personal accomplishme ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Lauren Perotto rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although Stockton and Pickett are clearly not writers, I enjoyed "getting to know" Stockton better. I have fond memories of watching the Jazz play when I was a kid. I was impressed with his humility and his hard work. I felt the book lacked a bit of his life for a biography and focused more on his relationship with other NBA figures and their personalities, although I guess that was his life for a long time. I would like to have known more about his mother and her influence. She is only mentione ...more

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Feb 27, 2014 Angie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

John Stockton's autobiography is perfectly titled. I've always had respect for him as a Jazz player and his story confirms everything I've ever thought and more. He is a wonderful example to me. Throughout his entire story he continually gives all those who have played a role in his life all of the credit. You can tell how much he loves his family and the level of respect he had for each person he ever worked with. I'll save most of my comments for our discussion but wanted to state that I found ...more

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Dec 06, 2014 Cathi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a fun book and made me respect John Stockton even more than I already did. I enjoyed learning about his youth in Spokane, Washington, and I also enjoyed learning about his college and NBA years. What a career! Granted, this book is not a page-turner; there's no "dirt" and no wild, crazy stories. (There are plenty of fun, light-hearted stories, though.) But that's what I liked about it. Stockton is just a good, decent guy, a family man who values his wife, six children, and religious bel ...more

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Jan 28, 2014 Brian Mccabe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Being a Chicago Bulls fan while growing up, this is not a book that I would have picked myself, but my wife is a big Jazz fan, and Stockton is her favorite player, so I gave it a shot. All and all it was a very good book, and gave a lot of personnel insight and perspective to a great player. While Stockton was not on the team I rooted for, I did respect him as a great player. The book added to this, as it demonstrated his incredible work ethic, and how much his family meant to him. He came from ...more

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Nov 12, 2013 Heidi Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a great book with great insight to John. It made me laugh and it made me cry. A lot of the things pertaining to the Jazz brought back many great and many TOUGH memories. John is a great writer and I truly thank him for this book!

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Jul 14, 2015 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Stock to Malone! I heard these words so many times growing up and listening/watching the Jazz games with my father. John Stockton is such a humble man and the greatest passer in NBA history. I enjoyed his biography as he explained how important family was both on and off the court. The relationships he built with players, coaches and owners is unheard of in today's sporting venues and it was so nice to see how true "team-play" helped the Jazz to so many playoff victories. My only complaint of th ...more

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Feb 17, 2014 Kelley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. Not because of it's beautiful prose or anything, but because I loved learning more about the backstory and behind-the-scenes history of one of the best point guards of all time. It was so fun to read about the people he played with and learned from over the years. He was so reserved and private throughout his career, so it was fun to hear about how he felt and what kinds of things drove him to greatness. If you watched the Jazz, or any NBA teams in the 80s and 90s, yo ...more

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Feb 18, 2015 Scottaggart rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Who knew? Playing basketball for a living is as boring and uneventful as any other job. Yawn.

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Apr 08, 2014 Dave Carlile rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like most 30 somethings who grew up in Utah I idealized Stock. While not the most well written book it was fun to remember some of the great games Stockton was a part of while with the Jazz. He seems like a really down to earth guy who really loves his family and wife...very un NBA like. John was always given grief from fans for not being more accessible and he addresses that in his book. It was interesting to read his take on being famous and the challenges it presents. I still think he is the ...more

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Jan 27, 2014 Annie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One more reason why I love John Stockton. He is just a class act all around.

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Jan 28, 2014 Mom rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There's a quote in this book that I really like - "I have come to the conclusion that, just as in life, you have to be yourself when trying out for anything. The best you can ever be is yourself. If you try to be someone else, you will likely fail."

While living in Utah in the early 90's, my two sons loved watching NBA basketball games. We even bought tickets and attended the Utah Jazz games at the Delta Center a few times. John Stockton and Karl Malone were favorites. Reading about John is what ...more

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Mar 28, 2015 Cameron rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: documentary-biography

I already appreciated, admired and respected John Stockton before reading this book. I guess that is why I read it. I have watched many documentaries on him and was always amazed at his humility and down to earth style. he was always loyal and had such a great attitude and work ethic.
the thing I love about this book is how it is packed with values and life lessons. such a humble man who never wanted the spotlight but worked so hard he accidentally walked into it. a good man who had his prorities ...more

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Sep 22, 2015 Shadow_Karl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book about an athlete that inspired me in my life. I really enjoyed the details about his upbringing, his career in the NBA, and the Olympics. My favorite sections of the book were the parts where he discussed his relationship with the owner, Larry Miller, Coach Sloan, and his teammates. It was a sad to learn how his last few years with the Jazz found him eating alone and unable to form the same bonds with many of the younger players he had with the players in the past. The generation gap Great book about an athlete that inspired me in my life. I really enjoyed the details about his upbringing, his career in the NBA, and the Olympics. My favorite sections of the book were the parts where he discussed his relationship with the owner, Larry Miller, Coach Sloan, and his teammates. It was a sad to learn how his last few years with the Jazz found him eating alone and unable to form the same bonds with many of the younger players he had with the players in the past. The generation gap and technology were already impacting how people socialize more an more by the end of his career. It is unfortunate that the players coming in the league were not jumping at the opportunity to learn from a true veteran of the sport and form a friendship with a great person.

Overall this book reaffirmed many of the great characteristics I saw in Stockton all of those years ago when I began rooting for the Jazz in 1988 as they played in the Playoffs against the Lakers. In Missouri we didn't have a professional team and I found myself drawn to Karl Malone and John Stockton's team play. More so, I found Stockton's quiet, humble, hard work ethic refreshing and inspiring. I can see my impressions then were spot on now. I think many professional athletes could learn a lot by reading his book.

To this day few moments in sporting history were as memorable for me as watching John Stockton sink that 3-pointer against Houston to take the Jazz to their first NBA finals verses the Bulls. It was a real pleasure seeing his reflections on that moment. I also really enjoyed learning more great things about the supporting cast of players that he played with over his career especially Jeff Hornacek and Karl Malone. I'm really happy that Stockton decided to share some of the details of his life and career for those of us that followed him over the years as a player. I was an avid fan of the NBA and watched it avidly until he retired. After that the game just wasn't the same. It is the players that I enjoyed rooting for and really made the game fun to follow and watch. Once he left the sport it wasn't the same for me anymore. ...more

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Books by John Stockton

Victorian Bottles: A Collector's Guide to Yesterday's Empties

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title link	preview: Assisted: An Autobiography
avg rating	preview: Assisted: An Autobiography Goodreads rating: 3.97 (374 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18910134-assisted?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385230727l/18910134.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18910134-assisted?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Assisted: An Autobiography by John Stockton[/url]