SALT LAKE CITY, May 2 -- Two days after the Utah Jazz lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second time in three years to the Sacramento Kings, John Stockton announced at the locker room clean out that this season was his last in the NBA.

John Stockton announced his retirement on Friday, May 2.

Clearing out his locker for the last time, before answering questions from the media, Stockton asked that pictures not be taken as he placed his belongings into a plastic bag. Shortly after he made his way to the middle of the locker room where press members gathered around him.

When asked if his season ending meeting with the coaching staff would help clear his mind regarding his impending decision to play or not, Stockton surprised everyone, “I think I’m finished, I’ve informed those guys and that is the direction that I’m headed.”

With the media understandably shocked, Stockton was asked if he was announcing his retirement, to which the guard replied, “Something like that, yeah.”

Stockton’s decision had apparently only been made hours before when he called Larry H. Miller on Friday morning and asked to meet with the Jazz owner. “When he walked into my office this morning, he sat down, and we shook hands” said Miller. “He said, ‘I plan to retire, let me just get that out on the table and let’s talk.’

“It wasn’t about money at all,” Miller continued. He just said, ‘here’s my position, I’ve been gravitating towards this and on behalf of the franchise and my teammates – am I missing something in my considerations?’

In the meeting, that Miller said lasted for a little over an hour, Stockton explained that he wanted to contact his father, Jerry Sloan, and Karl Malone before announcing his decision to the team. Yet even after the team meeting, no player, including Karl Malone, was aware of the guard’s impending retirement. “John thought he had conveyed that to them in the players meeting”, said Miller. “I just think it was hard for him to say the words directly.”

In talking with the press, Stockton was noticeably emotional about his retirement, opting not to answer reflective questions about his career. “You have got to stop asking me these tough questions because I have to get through this,” said Stockton after he was asked to look back at his career.

Not long after, when questioned about what he would miss most about the game Stockton had a difficult time trying to speak and with his voice cracking, his eyes watery, and head lowered, the 41 year old quietly uttered, “I don’t know, that’s good - thanks.” He then squeezed through the circle of press that had formed around him and quickly walked out of the Jazz locker room for the last time as a player.

Karl Malone, who addressed the media shortly after Stockton’s departure, was frustrated he was not informed by his teammate of 18 years but said he still respected the way Stockton announced his decision. “Everyone that has competed at a high level has a way they want to do it, this was his way of doing it,” said Malone. “I know my way of doing it when that time comes, so that is life, that’s the way it is. But I know the person - the man. I know him, and that’s what’s important to me.”

Malone, who was still noticeably surprised, said he was glad the two had a chance to talk just days ago after the team’s loss to Sacramento. Malone took the plane ride home as an opportunity to talk Stockton. “I had some very deep things that I wanted to say to him and I did,” said Malone. “Our conversation we had will be a lasting one and it was a great one.”

Looking back on the guard’s career Malone said, “There will not be another one, his kids could follow in his footsteps, which I’m sure they might but there will not be another one – I guarantee you that.”

Derek Garduno is an intern in the Utah Jazz Public Relations department and is currently a student at the University of Utah