ATLANTA — Jerry Sloan remembers well the day the Chicago Bulls retired his No. 4.

Truth be told, he couldn't stand it.

"It's hard to enjoy something like that," the Jazz coach said Saturday, "because some people are saying things about you that are kind of hard for me to believe."

Monday night, the Jazz will retire John Stockton's No. 12.

And, if Sloan's hunch is right, the NBA's all-time steals and assists leader probably will savor the moment much like his old coach did.

Which is not much at all.

"I'm not into that stuff," Sloan said. "They do it, fine. That's just a way of saying, 'Thanks,' I guess.

"I never played basketball for any reason other than to be a part of it, (and) to try to win and that sort of thing," he added. "And I think John always did that every day he stepped out there: He just played to try to win. It wasn't for honors or anything. That's the same way I've always tried to be."

The retirement ceremony is, however, designed to honor Stockton — and that much is acknowledged.

"He's such a wonderful player for our organization, beyond the game of basketball," Sloan said. "I think it's a great tribute to him for what he was able to do."

Stockton's jersey number will be raised to the rafters of the Delta Center at halftime of Utah's game against New Orleans. The statue of Stockton that eventually will stand outside the Delta Center, however, will not be unveiled Monday, a team spokesman said.

LOTSA TURKS: On Wednesday in Orlando, more than 400 Turks were on hand to watch the Magic's Hedo Turkoglu face off with countryman Mehmet Okur of the Jazz.

On Saturday in Atlanta, a few hundred more fans from Turkey — many apparently in the area for a meeting — filled an upper-deck section at Philips Arena to watch Okur and the Jazz play the Hawks.

"They're everywhere," Okur, who waved to the chanting group as he exited the floor Saturday night, said after scoring 18 points and pulling down eight rebounds in Utah's 92-79 win over Atlanta.

MAILMAN TAKING TIME: A decision on whether or not former Jazz star Karl Malone will return to the NBA "is not expected until after Christmas, if not early January," according to Saturday's Los Angeles Times.

Malone, still recovering from offseason knee surgery, has said he would play for the Lakers if he opts against retirement.

MISC.: Jazz forward Matt Harpring (bruised left knee) did not play for a second straight game Saturday, and the Jazz are calling him "doubtful" for Monday night. . . . Only three of the 15 current Hawks — Chris Collier, Boris Diaw and injured Chris Crawford — played in Atlanta last season. Jon Barry and Kevin Willis, though, had previous stints with the club. . . . Twenty-season vet Willis (shoulder strain) went on the injured list Friday and was replaced on Atlanta's active roster by guard Tony Delk, who shot 1-of-4 from the field in 15 off-the-bench minutes.

---

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com