Stockton's Injury Shocks Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY - When the Utah Jazz were told that John Stockton would be out of the lineup for two to three months after knee surgery, most of them didn't believe it.

"It was a shock because he's never injured," said Howard Eisley, who will take over as the starter at point guard.

"With Stock, I was just thinking, `Come on, ice it down and get back out there,"' said Karl Malone, Stockton's Utah teammate since 1985 and a fellow two-time Olympian. "But John won't ever tell you if he's hurt."

Stockton, who has missed only four games during his entire NBA career, had arthroscopic surgery Monday night to remove loose cartilage from his left knee. He will be sidelined for the three remaining weeks of the preseason and at least 6-8 weeks of the regular season.

"John asked me if that recovery period was the worst-case scenario," said the team's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lyle Mason, who performed the procedure. "I told him that was the only scenario."

Mason said this particular injury does not heal easily.

"It's possible he could return to 100 percent effectiveness, but he could also have some permanent limitations," Mason said. "We just have to wait and see."

Stockton missed four games during the 1989-90 season, two because of flu and two with a sprained ankle. Since then, he has played in 609 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak in the NBA.

Mason said that Stockton began rehabbing yesterday with swimming, but he will not be allowed to run for at least eight weeks.

"We should know in eight weeks whether (the injury) has healed," Mason said.