A lot has been said in recent years about the lack of rivalries in the modern NBA. Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain. Michael Jordan vs. Isiah Thomas. Shaquille O’Neal vs. Kobe Bryant. These iconic battles between legends created some of the NBA’s most memorable moments and defined entire eras of basketball.
For former two-time NBA champion Vernon Maxwell, one particular rivalry still fuels his fire—even decades after his playing days ended.
Vernon Maxwell’s Candid Comments
On a recent episode of the All the Smoke podcast, Maxwell made it crystal clear: In his eyes, John Stockton, the all-time Utah Jazz great, wasn’t just a tough competitor—he was one of the dirtiest players in NBA history.
Maxwell, in typical “Mad Max” fashion, held nothing back in his latest assessment of Stockton.
“Stockton dirty as fk. One of the dirtiest fking players in the NBA ever,” Maxwell declared. “This little short, little mailbox-looking carry ass, and he’s dirty as hell. He’s a dog, he’s a demon for real. He just don’t look like that, but he was nasty.”
Mad Max breaks down the 90s Utah Jazz 💀
ALL THE SMOKE with @VernonMaxwell11 is available on YouTube now! pic.twitter.com/51oiWryjkW
— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) March 2, 2025
For NBA fans who remember the physical, no-holds-barred style of 1990s basketball, Maxwell’s comments reignite an age-old debate: Was John Stockton just a tough, scrappy competitor, or did he cross the line into outright dirty play?
Who Is Vernon Maxwell?
For younger fans who may not be familiar, Vernon Maxwell was one of the NBA’s fiercest competitors in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. As a two-time NBA champion with the Houston Rockets, Maxwell built a reputation as one of the league’s top enforcers—a player who took pride in mixing it up with opponents. His nickname, “Mad Max,” was well-earned.
Maxwell was a key piece of Houston’s championship teams in 1994 and 1995, providing the necessary toughness and defensive tenacity alongside the star power of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. But beyond his on-court talent, Maxwell became known for his outspoken nature—and his deep-seated dislike for certain opponents, none more so than Stockton and the Utah Jazz.
Maxwell vs. Stockton: A Rivalry Renewed
A 10-time NBA All-Star and nine-time assists leader, John Stockton is widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards in basketball history. He remains the NBA’s all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265) by a wide margin. However, for all the accolades Stockton has received, there has always been an undercurrent of discussion about his play.
Opponents—including Gilbert Arenas, Steve Kerr, and now Maxwell—have accused him of using sneaky, borderline-illegal tactics: grabbing jerseys, throwing subtle elbows, and setting screens that could have easily been called moving violations. Stockton played in an era where physicality was a badge of honor, and he apparently knew how to push the envelope without drawing whistles.
Maxwell’s hatred for Stockton isn’t new. It has been simmering since their playing days, when the Jazz and Rockets clashed in numerous heated matchups. Houston and Utah were two of the Western Conference’s premier teams in the ’90s, with both rosters priding themselves on grit and toughness.
For Maxwell, Stockton epitomized everything he despised about the Jazz. He saw Stockton as a player who got away with dirty tactics under the guise of being a clean, hard-nosed competitor. To Maxwell, Stockton wasn’t just tough—he was “nasty,” someone who deliberately used underhanded methods to gain an edge.
Maxwell’s disdain doesn’t stop with Stockton. During the podcast, he also unloaded on Jeff Hornacek, Greg Ostertag, and even the Utah Jazz fanbase.
Maxwell’s comments have reignited the debate about Stockton’s legacy. Was he truly just a scrappy, high-IQ player maximizing his talent, or did he regularly cross the line into dirty play? While Jazz fans continue to defend their icon, plenty of former players seem to agree with Maxwell, describing Stockton as a relentless competitor who played with a hidden mean streak.
