Utah Jazz: Tears and cheers as Stockton, Sloan enter Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — One is from the second-biggest city in Washington. The other from a tiny town in Illinois.

But what Jerry Sloan and John Stockton — the dream coach and the coach's dream — did when they teamed up for nearly two decades in the small NBA market in Utah helped them earn a ticket to where their legacies belong.

On Friday night, they were welcomed into hoops heaven.

The Utah Jazz legends — synonymous with success, toughness and an old-school work ethic and approach — were granted entry into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

They both were greeted with standing ovations, including by many of the game's greats.

Stockton and Sloan joined Michael Jordan, who stole the show on this night as he's done so many times before, David Robinson and C. Vivian Stringer in entering basketball immortality in the sport's birthplace with one of the greatest classes in the Hall of Fame's 50-year history.

In heartfelt speeches, the Jazz fixtures displayed a wide range of emotions, excitement and entertainment.

Stockton began his speech with a self-deprecating shot at his size, background and choice of uniform bottoms.

"So what am I doing here?" he asked. "I'm a small kid from Spokane, Wash., that was ... walking around in big shorts and now I'm being inducted into the Hall of Fame in short shorts."

Staying true to their roots, they also thanked a ton of people whom they credit for their success and longevity — including former Jazz owner Larry H. Miller.

Stockton, considered by many the greatest true point guard in NBA history, thanked family and friends who traveled thousands of miles, even from Hawaii and Alaska, for this event.

"Just to support me," he said.

Stockton thinks that's the real reason they came, at least.

"I almost started laughing there," he said, "because I think they actually came to see Michael."

The star-studded audience at Symphony Hall roared in laughter.

"He makes one big shot," Stockton continued about Jordan, "and everybody thinks he's kind of cool."

Turns out, Stockton is almost as good at delivering jokes as he is timely assists.

It was both ironic and fitting that Jordan cast his large shadow over the spotlight that shined on Stockton and Sloan. He stole their thunder in 1997 and '98 when Chicago beat Utah in the NBA Finals, but they were both thrilled to be in this class and fine with the attention being mostly given to Air Jordan.

"This is a long way from McLeansboro, Ill., and I'm honored to be here," Sloan said, referring to his hometown. "Getting inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame is an achievement unsurpassed in my career."