The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: The five best trios in franchise history

By Caleb Manser

Karl Malone, Jeff Hornacek, John Stockton, Utah Jazz. (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Karl Malone, Jeff Hornacek, John Stockton, Utah Jazz. (Photo credit should read ROBERT SULLIVAN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Utah Jazz Karl Malone
Karl Malone, John Stockton, Utah Jazz. Gary Payton, Seattle SuperSonics. (Photo credit should read DAN LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Number One

Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek, 1994-2000

Playoff Appearances: Seven. Made it to the first round (1995), second round (1999, 2000), conference finals (1994, 1996), NBA Finals (1997, 1998)

All-Stars: Karl Malone (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), John Stockton (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000)

This trio won by a landslide. Not only do they take the trophy for most trips to the NBA Finals, but they also made it to the NBA’s version of the Final Four on two separate occasions.

And it wasn’t just playoff greatness that set this trio apart. The team broke the 60 win barrier three times in the Hornacek era, which no other Jazz team has been able to do.

The Jazz already had a dynamic duo in place with Stockton and Malone, but they needed tweaks to the roster to truly make it over the hump. That piece ended up being Jeff Hornacek.

“Horny” was the knock-down 3-point shooter John and Karl needed to space the floor and provide points without needing to take control of the ball on offense. What he lacked in size and quickness he made up with smarts and hustle plays in his aging body.

It’s no wonder why Hornacek’s number 14 is retired in the rafters of Vivint Smart Home Arena. His time in Salt Lake City coincided with the most dominant era of Utah Jazz basketball ever.

And of course, Stockton and Malone put the final stamp on their Hall of Fame submissions in the late 90s with their Iron Man durability despite playing at such an old age.

Fun fact: John Stockton had more occasions where he dished out 20+ assists than he has missed games in his entire career. That’s pure greatness right there.

Stockton holds the All-Time NBA records for steals and assists, and Malone climbed all the way to second in All-Time points scored. They took Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to six games in the NBA Finals two years in a row.

Next. What if the Jazz drafted Devin Booker in 2015?. dark

If it weren’t for the sheer greatness of His Airness, these two Hall of Famers and Jeff Hornacek would have ended their NBA careers with a ring or two.