Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all-time, holding the NBA record for career assists and steals.

Stockton was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and attended Gonzaga Preparatory School. He then played college basketball for Gonzaga University in his hometown. He was selected by the Jazz in the first round (16th pick overall) of the 1984 NBA Draft.

Though only 6'1" in a league of giants, Stockton is considered one of the NBA's greatest point guards ever. He averaged a career double-double, with 13.1 points and 10.5 assists per game. As of 2005, he held the NBA's records for career assists (15,806) and career steals (3,265). He had five of the top six assists seasons in NBA history (the other belonging to Isiah Thomas). He holds the NBA record for the most seasons and consecutive games played with one team, and is third in total games played, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Robert Parish. He missed only 22 games during his career, 18 of them in one season.

Stockton appeared in 10 All-Star games, and was named co-MVP of the game in 1993 with Jazz teammate Karl Malone. He played with the 1992 and 1996 US Olympic basketball teams, known as Dream Teams I and II, the first Olympic squads to feature NBA players. He was selected to the All-NBA First Team twice, the Second Team six times, the Third Team three times, and the All-Defensive Second Team five times. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players In NBA History in 1996. Stockton's career highlight came in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Finals, in which he hit the winning shot over Houston's Charles Barkley to send the Jazz to its first NBA Finals.

For many years, he and Malone were the Jazz's 1-2 punch. Most of Stockton's assists resulted from passes to Malone. In Salt Lake City, this is commemorated by a car dealership with the name Stockton to Malone Honda.

Bronze statue of StocktonStockton earned the "old school" tag for his physical play (surveys of athletes and fans alike often judged him among the toughest players in the NBA, usually just behind teammate Karl Malone); his uniform "short shorts" (he was the last notable NBA player to wear them, clinging to the style long after the rest of the league had adopted today's baggy look); his conservative dress off the court, which contrasted with many of his NBA contemporaries; and his reserved behavior.

On May 2 2003, Stockton announced his retirement with a released statement instead of the customary news conference. The Jazz later held a retirement ceremony for him, in which Salt Lake City renamed the street in front of the Delta Center, where the Jazz play, "John Stockton Drive." His number-12 jersey was retired by the Jazz during a game on November 22, 2004. A statue of Stockton can be seen in front of the Delta Center; an accompanying statue of Karl Malone was placed nearby on March 23, 2006. The Malone and Stockton statues stand on a bronze plaque commemorating their achievements together.

Stockton and his wife, the former Nada Stepovich (daughter of Michael Anthony Stepovich, the last territorial governor of Alaska), have two daughters, Lindsay and Laura, and four sons, Houston, Michael, David and Samuel. They live in Spokane next door to his parents.