David Stockton Bio
David James Stockton, born on June 24, 1991, in Spokane, Washington, is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Valley Suns of the NBA G League. A point guard standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 172 pounds, he has built a journeyman career across multiple professional leagues since going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft. He is the son of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton, and he played his college basketball at Gonzaga, the same school where his father built a legendary legacy.
Across more than a decade in professional basketball, David James Stockton has suited up for NBA franchises, NBA G League teams, and clubs in Croatia, Germany, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico. His career reflects the persistence of a player who kept earning opportunities through steady playmaking, defensive effort, and the willingness to compete abroad when NBA roster spots were limited.
Early Life and Background
David James Stockton was born and raised in Spokane, Washington, the longtime home of his father John Stockton. He grew up in a basketball household, with his father John Stockton playing 19 seasons for the Utah Jazz and being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. His mother, Nada Stockton, is of Montenegrin and Croatian descent and is the granddaughter of American politician Mike Stepovich, a connection that later made David James Stockton eligible for a Croatian passport.
The Stockton family has deep athletic roots. His great-grandfather, Houston Stockton, played football at Gonzaga from 1922 to 1924 and went undefeated during his senior season in 1924, earning All-America honorable mention recognition. David James Stockton’s older brother Michael has played professional basketball in France, while another brother, Houston Jr., played football at the University of Montana.
Path to Basketball
David James Stockton attended Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington, where he played for the Bullpups. As a senior during the 2008–09 season, he averaged 12.4 points across 20 games and helped lead his team to a 24–6 record. In the 2009 Washington State Class 4A Basketball Tournament, he scored a game-high 22 points as Gonzaga Prep defeated Inglemoor 72–64 in overtime to claim fourth place. He also quarterbacked the school’s football team to an 8–2 record during his senior year, showing the multi-sport athletic background that shaped his competitive foundation.
After redshirting the 2009–10 college season, David James Stockton joined the Gonzaga Bulldogs for his freshman year in 2010–11. Over four seasons with the Bulldogs, he grew from a reserve guard into a starting floor general, finishing his senior year on the 2014 WCC All-Tournament Team after helping Gonzaga win the conference tournament. In his senior season, he started all 36 games and averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.5 steals in 27.8 minutes per game.
David Stockton Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, David James Stockton joined the Phoenix Suns for the 2014 NBA Summer League and signed briefly with the Washington Wizards before being waived. He was then selected by the Maine Red Claws in the third round of the 2014 NBA Development League Draft and traded that night to the Reno Bighorns. With the Bighorns, he quickly proved he belonged at the professional level.
On March 6, 2015, David James Stockton tied the NBA Development League record with 22 assists against the Texas Legends, and on March 22 he recorded his first career triple-double with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists in a 128–113 win over the Idaho Stampede. He earned a place on the NBA D-League All-Rookie Second Team for 2015 and returned to the Bighorns in 2015–16 after a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings.
NBA Debut with the Sacramento Kings (2015)
On February 20, 2015, David James Stockton signed a 10-day contract with the Sacramento Kings and made his NBA debut the next day, recording one point, two rebounds, and one assist in a 126–99 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Although the Kings did not sign him to a second 10-day deal, his call-up marked the realization of an NBA dream for a player carrying one of basketball’s most famous surnames.
He later returned to Sacramento for the 2015–16 season, joining the Kings for training camp and preseason play before rejoining the Reno Bighorns again in November 2015.
NBA Return with the Utah Jazz (2018)
On March 17, 2018, David James Stockton signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, the team where his father John Stockton had spent his entire 19-year NBA career. With John Stockton watching from the stands, he made his Jazz debut on March 25, scoring his first two points on free throws in a 110–91 win over the Golden State Warriors. He signed a second 10-day contract and then a rest-of-season deal to finish the year in Utah.
The Jazz appearance was a meaningful milestone, allowing David James Stockton to step onto an NBA court in the same building where his father’s retired No. 12 jersey hangs.
International Stints (2016–2019)
In July 2016, David James Stockton signed a three-year deal with Croatian club Cedevita Zagreb, but left the team in early November 2016 to join the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL as an injury replacement. With the Breakers he made an immediate impact, scoring 17 points off the bench in his debut and recording 24 points and 10 assists against the Illawarra Hawks. He was released in January 2017 due to a back injury, having averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists across 10 games.
On August 1, 2018, David James Stockton signed with Medi Bayreuth of the German Basketball Bundesliga, completing an international chapter that further broadened his professional experience.
Valley Suns Era (2024–2025)
After stints with the Memphis Hustle, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Cangrejeros de Santurce, NBA G League Ignite, and Capitanes de Arecibo, David James Stockton signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Phoenix Suns on September 27, 2024, before being waived three days later. On October 27, 2024, he joined the Valley Suns, continuing his long association with the Phoenix Suns’ developmental system that dates back to his first professional season with the Reno Bighorns.
The Valley Suns assignment gave David James Stockton a familiar platform in the NBA G League as he continued his career beyond his early thirties.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among David James Stockton’s most memorable professional moments are his 22-assist game with the Reno Bighorns in 2015, his triple-double against the Idaho Stampede later that month, his NBA debut with the Sacramento Kings, and his 2018 Utah Jazz debut in front of his Hall of Fame father. He also led the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in assists in 2021 while playing for the Mets de Guaynabo and posted a 30-point, 10-assist performance for the South Bay Lakers in November 2019.
David Stockton Career Wins
David James Stockton has not won a major individual championship at the NBA level, but his career has produced consistent team contributions, individual records, and honors across multiple leagues. His most celebrated achievements include his 2015 NBA D-League All-Rookie Second Team selection and his 2021 BSN assists title with the Mets de Guaynabo.
NBA G League Highlights
Across multiple stints with the Reno Bighorns and later with the South Bay Lakers, Memphis Hustle, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and Valley Suns, David James Stockton established himself as a steady G League point guard. His 22-assist performance against the Texas Legends in March 2015 remains one of the defining statistical nights of his career.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the G League, David James Stockton posted strong showings in New Zealand and Puerto Rico, averaging 15 points and 6.5 assists across his first four games with the Breakers and leading the BSN in assists during the 2021 season. His South Bay Lakers campaign produced averages of 15.3 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
David Stockton Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Stockton family. David James Stockton is the son of John and Nada Stockton, with his father widely considered one of the greatest point guards in NBA history and a 2009 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. His great-grandfather Houston Stockton played football at Gonzaga in the 1920s, while his older brother Michael continues a family tradition by playing professional basketball in France.
Personal Life
Through his mother Nada Stockton, David James Stockton holds ties to Montenegro and Croatia and is eligible for a Croatian passport. His maternal grandfather was American politician Mike Stepovich, linking the family to a broader heritage beyond basketball. He has continued to carry the Stockton name across professional leagues while building a long and resilient career of his own.
2025 Season Performance
David James Stockton entered 2025 coming off his 2024–25 stint with the Valley Suns, where he reconnected with the Phoenix Suns’ developmental pipeline that has featured him throughout his professional life. His role with the Valley Suns gave him the chance to mentor younger guards while contributing as a veteran playmaker.
As a free agent following the conclusion of that assignment, David James Stockton remained open to new opportunities in the NBA G League, overseas leagues, and Puerto Rico. His versatility as a pass-first point guard and his willingness to compete at any level kept him in demand as a 2025 roster option.
Looking ahead, David James Stockton’s persistence and professional reliability suggest he will continue to pursue opportunities that match his skill set, whether in the United States or abroad.