The burning question: Malone and Stockton

[Marc]

Do you guys think Malone and Stockton should give it up? They probably aren't going to win a championship with their current squad... they are good, but not championship level. I think everyone has to agree with me here.

However, the question and debate comes when you consider this: should Malone and Stockton retire or should they built around the older stars? Before you answer "yes" to building around, you have to consider things such as salary cap and money concerns keeping older stars involves...

[iFroggy]

If they want to play, they should be allowed to play. (And this will probably be my last post on this thread, you all know how I feel :))

[Jersey Devil]

Unlike my last post, where I said that Ewing / Olajuwon / somebody else should hang the gloves up and retire, I really don't want to see Malone and Stockton retire just yet. Unlike the others, I really am not seeing their careers on the downfall (it's only a little worse than what they've done in years past). They are basically still just as good as ever.

I'd like to see them play a couple more years as the young guys develop (DeShawn and company). I mean, they are two of the best teachers in the NBA that any young players could learn from. It'd also be cool for Stockton to rack up hundreds more assists (just to keep his record safe for a bit longer). Being that I'm just soon going to be into college, I don't even remember Utah playing without Malone / Stockton. Hopefully, in a few years, like I said, they retire (healthy) ... but they have to retire together, then go in the hall of fame together, etc.

I guess I like to compare them most to football's Dan Marino. This guy is unarguably one of THE BEST quarterbacks in the history of the game, though he's never won the Superbowl. Stockton and Malone are the same way ... and I seriously doubt the fact that anybody will ever question how good they have been in their career.