Utah Jazz: Miller's drive with ESPN reporter reveals a lot about Sloan's future

While the Jazz were playing the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, franchise owner Larry H. Miller — who skipped attending Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal series for religious reasons — went for a drive.

In the passenger's seat of his Lexus was ESPN.com columnist Gene Wojciechowski, whose lengthy column for the Web site included this nugget about the Jazz's head-coaching situation:

"It's 3:22 when Miller says (Jerry) Sloan wants to coach for at least another season, maybe more. But when he does call it quits, longtime Jazz assistant Phil Johnson will get first crack at the job.

"That's written in stone.

"If Johnson takes a pass, Miller is likely to make a run at John Stockton. They've discussed the job in the past, but Stockton's interest in the position — or, more correctly, in coaching in the NBA — has cooled. For now."

Miller first said several years ago that Johnson would be offered the top job whenever Sloan exited, and he has never once wavered from that since.

Johnson, a former NBA Coach of the Year, has been a candidate for at least two head-coaching vacancies in recent years — in Toronto and Denver — but instead has remained as Sloan's right-hand man.

Beyond his patented you-never-know-what-tomorrow-will-bring response to periodic questions about his coaching future, Sloan — who is completing his 20th season in his current position — has given no indication whatsoever that he does not plan to return next season.

Stockton, the NBA's all-time leading steals and assists leader, has been living quietly with his family in his native Spokane, Wash., since his retirement as a player in 2003.

On the same day he chose not to be seen at the Jazz playoff game, incidentally, Miller made a live appearance Sunday night on KSL-TV.

---

E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com

Recent comments

• Most Popular
• Most Commented

1. Hostages tell of little food, deprivations
2. Mascaro says Utah GOP leaders 'stoop low'
3. Utah Jazz notes: Smith, Fredman given new responsibilities with ballclub
4. LDS get final OK on project
5. MormonTimes.com: Virtual Mormons get a 'Second Life' -- Part 2
6. Man accused of witchcraft threats in rape case
7. BYU, Utah Utes football: O-lines may be key to MWC race
8. Bosnian family grateful to U.S. for their new life
9. Fit to be tied: Real Salt Lake, Houston battle to a scoreless draw
10. Utah Jazz notebook: Celtics, Spurs, Heat join bidding for Maggette

1. 'The leader we need is you,' Beck tells 17,000 at BYU 207
2. The case of the anti-Mormons 188
3. LDS get final OK on project 180
4. Death penalty has purpose 174
5. BYU, Utah Utes football: O-lines may be key to MWC race 137
6. Utah Utes football: Utah's man — Injury-free Johnson rarin' to go for Utes 129
7. Russia's little hero: Ex-Cougar is invited to join Russia's Olympic camp 123
8. Mom charged with negligent homicide in tot's heat-related death in Layton 97
9. GOP, Big Oil push shale in Utah 96
10. Texas county doesn't want FLDS raid costs 76
11. (Stories published in the last five days with the most comments)

• BYU
• Jazz
• Real SL
• Utes