Yes, Stockton to return

By Tim Buckley Deseret News sports writer

The day after John Stockton told Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller and other team officials that he would be back for his 19th season, the Utah Jazz announced their preseason schedule, which includes a trip to Stockton's hometown. Stockton, who turned 40 in March, signed a two-year contract prior to last season. Still, there had been some speculation that he would retire, although all indications in recent weeks were that he would return. And now it's official. Stockton, who is the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals, will be just the second guard in league history to start a season after his 40th birthday, the other being seldom-used John Long who was with the Raptors in 1996. Only two players have had much impact in the NBA after their 40th birthdays, centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish.

Stockton averaged 13.4 points, 8.2 assists and 1.85 steals while playing in all 82 games last season. His scoring average was his highest in five years, and he made 51.9 percent of his shots, fifth best in the NBA. This season the veteran Jazz point guard will have a new backup, Spanish rookie Raul Lopez. The Jazz are excited about Lopez having a year to learn from arguably the best pure point guard in NBA history. Utah opens exhibition play against Seattle on Oct. 6 in Spokane, Washington, where Stockton was born, raised and educated at Gonzaga University. The Jazz's visit there will mark the fourth time since Stockton broke into the league that they have faced the Sonics in Spokane: Utah also played there in 1985, '86 and '95, losing the past two games.

The Spokane appearance kicks off a three-game Jazz trip, with visits also being paid to Portland on Oct. 8 and Reno on Oct. 10. In Reno, Utah will play the Sacramento Kings, who beat the Jazz in a first-round playoff series earlier this year. The Jazz's other preseason trip also is a three-gamer: Oct. 18 at Cleveland, the next night at Philadelphia and Oct. 22 at New York. Utah also will play two preseason games at the Delta Center, Oct. 15 vs. the Knicks and Oct. 24 vs. Toronto, before opening the regular season Oct. 30 at New Orleans. The Jazz's regular-season home opener is Nov. 2 vs. Golden State. Meanwhile, the Jazz have decided to not travel to Boise for training camp for the first time since 1998. Instead, they will open camp at their Franklin Covey practice facility in West Valley City before heading to Spokane.

Jazz 2002 preseason

Oct. 6 vs. Seattle at Spokane

Oct. 8 at Portland

Oct. 10 vs. Sacramento at Reno

Oct. 15 vs. New York at Delta Center

Oct. 18 at Cleveland

Oct. 19 at Philadelphia

Oct. 22 at New York

Oct. 24 vs. Toronto at Delta Center