"Stockton and Malone" is a phrase that'south essentially ingrained in the NBA lexicon. Information technology represents the long-standing friendship between Utah Jazz legends Karl Malone and John Stockton, who formed the greatest option-and-roll duo in basketball history. They also garnered reputations for their unflappable toughness and occasionally muddy tactics, the latter of which consistently irked opponents.

But for all the on-court dominance and bravado, Malone and Stockton sowed the seeds for hereafter success at a more childish attraction. In this case, a meeting at a Salt Lake Urban center zoo.

The Utah Jazz drafted Karl Malone in 1985, one yr after they selected John Stockton

Enough of Jazz fans probably felt miffed when the team selected Gonzaga baby-sit John Stockton in the offset circular of the 1984 NBA Draft. Nevertheless, unbeknownst likely even to Utah'southward front end office at the fourth dimension, the franchise had a pure signal guard anchoring its foundation.

Naturally, the next step entailed getting the laissez passer-first Stockton a ascendant frontcourt partner. The Jazz did simply that past selecting Karl Malone with the 13th overall choice in the 1985 NBA Draft.

Like Stockton, Malone hailed from a school (Louisiana Tech) with a smaller national profile. Nonetheless, the man they called "The Mailman" already boasted tremendous strength and athleticism at the forward position.

The Jazz had their two pillars firmly in place. At present, they needed to ensure Malone and Stockton could gel both on and off the flooring.

Stockton met a rookie Malone at a local zoo in an try to build a relationship with the Mailman

Utah Jazz greats Karl Malone and John Stockton talk during an NBA game in 1997
Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz talk strategy during an NBA game in 1997 | Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images

John Stockton kickoff met Karl Malone during the trials for the 1984 Olympic Games. Neither player made the roster, with Stockton's late cutting at the hands of head jitney Bob Knight ultimately serving equally motivation.

Still, Stockton's brief encounters with Malone at the trials gave him an added want to build upon the human relationship with his new teammate. He helped gear up a meeting with Malone and Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan in the summer of 1985. The location? Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake Urban center, a majestic sounding location below a canyon overlooking a valley.

Years later, Stockton still remembers the serenity of information technology all.

"I don't remember crowds or throngs of people seeking autographs or pictures or anything similar that," Stockton said, via The Able-bodied. "Nosotros only enjoyed the day like normal folk at the zoo. It's almost kind of unimaginable, isn't it? (With) the history of the Jazz and in our connexion for all those years, information technology's hard to imagine the two of u.s. walking around in Hogle Zoo as 2 young guys simply looking at animals. And to exist able to get away with that."

Just similar that, a dynamic created from relative obscurity ultimately grew into i of the most famous combinations in NBA history.

The GOAT pick-and-roll duo

Karl Malone and John Stockton have the unfortunate distinction of being 2 of the greatest players never to win an NBA championship, thanks mainly to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

Nonetheless, the Jazz legends yet maintain a reputation as the Caprine animal pick-and-scroll partnership in NBA history.

Malone and Stockton displayed terrific synergy and anticipation on the hardwood. The Mailman'south midrange shooting and explosive athleticism perfectly complemented Stockton'south power to make plays driving to the basket or sit backside screens and striking outside jumpers. Both men also excelled in transition, with Stockton'southward picture-perfect outlet passes leading to quite a few Malone layups.

It'southward no surprise that Malone and Stockton are at or near the top of all-time leaderboards, given how well their games suited 1 another. The Mailman ranks second all-time in both field goals made and points scored. Stockton, meanwhile, is the NBA'southward all-time leader in assists.

So while Malone and Stockton never won the hardware, they forever endeared themselves to Jazz fans while setting the standard for the most elementary and commonly-used play set in NBA history.

Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference.