Stalwart Stockton

Magic Johnson’s career was cut short at age 32, except for a 32-game comeback four years later. Isiah Thomas was 33 years old when he retired from the NBA.

Bob Cousy was done at 34, except for six games as a 41-year-old player-coach in Cincinnati. Tiny Archibald’s numbers were way down when he hung it up at 35. Maurice Cheeks quit at 36, after one last dismal season with the New Jersey Nets.

No prominent point guard in NBA history has played well for more than 13 seasons. John Stockton, who will turn 36 on March 26, is in his 14th year in the league.

“He’s still one of the best at our position,” said Suns point guard Jason Kidd after Utah beat Phoenix 108-97 on Feb. 26. “John’s a guy I looked up to, growing up, and he’s still doing it every night.”

How has he managed to remain one of the NBA’s most dangerous point guards for so long--and how can he keep it up while the league gets younger, quicker and more athletic?

“There’s no secret,” Stockton says. “Practice hard, play hard, take care of yourself and don’t do stupid things.”

Even after missing the first 18 games of this season because of knee surgery, Stockton’s skills have remained sharp. He is averaging 12.4 points per game, and his 8.9 assists per game this season are good for third in the NBA.

“John’s the same as he’s always been,” coach Jerry Sloan said. “(He) comes prepared every day and he takes his job seriously.”

Stockton’s ability to remain a pure point guard in the final years of the 1990s is perhaps the most impressive aspect of his career. His style of play has become as anachronistic as the Andre Agassi tennis shoes he wears in a sea of aerodynamically designed techno-sneakers.

In perfecting his position, he has become an anomaly.

“Guys at my position tend to shoot more nowadays,” he said. “I was always a passer. I like to score, but I’m at my best setting things up.”

Three of the last four Rookies of the Year--Kidd (who shared the award with Grant Hill) in 1995, Damon Stoudamire in 1996 and Allen Iverson last year--are point guards, but not in Stockton’s mold.

Point men are expected to generate as well as facilitate offense. Kidd, Stoudamire and Iverson--along with Milwaukee’s Terrell Brandon and Miami’s Tim Hardaway--are also among their team’s leaders in scoring.

Stockton has consistently scored in the mid-teens for the past decade, although it’s obvious that he could score more if he chose. He penetrates to the hoop with ease a half-dozen times each night, and his jumper has improved markedly in the last few years.

“John could have been scoring 20, 25 points a game in this league for 10 years if he wanted to,” said Charles Barkley after Stockton scored 24 in Utah’s 107-103 Christmas Day win over the Rockets. “He chose a different path.”

Stockton’s numbers, both in scoring and assists, have declined somewhat in the last three years, but the presence of reliable backup Howard Eisley on Utah’s roster has been primarily responsible.

“We have kind of similar games, but we both realize that he’s the man down the stretch,” Eisley said. “I can help keep him rested, but he’s on the floor at the end.”

With Eisley caddying, Stockton is saved much of the wear and tear that he absorbed while playing 3,000-minute seasons earlier in his career.

“I don’t look at it like I’m going to set a date when (I’ll retire),” Stockton said. “I’ll know when it’s time.”

Last season, whispers began that Stockton had lost a step, that the NBA’s career steals leader couldn’t keep up with the young guns on defense. Rumor had it that opposing point guards were sending limousines to pick him up for the games.

Stockton just kept driving his black Lexus with heavily tinted windows--and playing the game his way.

“People who think he’s losing it are people who don’t have to play against him,” said Seattle’s Gary Payton after Utah’s 101-93 loss to Seattle on Jan. 28.