SALT LAKE CITY (AP) John Stockton's return for a 19th NBA season is official, though it hardly comes as a surprise.

Utah Jazz vice president Kevin O'Connor said Thursday the league's career leader in assists and steals will be back.

"We didn't think it was a big deal," O'Connor said. "It was August and he was still under contract. We set up a contingency plan but we didn't expect to use it."

The 40-year-old Stockton met Wednesday with team officials and told them he will honor the second year of his two-year contract. Stockton will make $7.875 million.

"I still love to play basketball," Stockton told The Salt Lake Tribune.

After the Jazz were eliminated in the first round of last season's playoffs, Stockton said he hoped to return but planned to weigh his options.

His intentions became increasingly evident as the summer passed and the Jazz went through the draft and the start of the free-agency period without filling a need at the point.

While Jazz fans wondered what Stockton would do, there never really was any concern in the Stockton home.

"I haven't been dwelling on it," Stockton told the Tribune. "We just let the summer go by, as we always do."

Stockton has spoken with regret in recent seasons about how the demanding NBA schedule has forced him to miss time at home. He has a wife and six children.

"It's always a factor because you're planning for eight instead of just one," Stockton said.

Last season, Stockton averaged 13.4 points. His 8.2 assists a game ranked fifth in the league. After his 40th birthday, he boosted his output to 17 points and 9.4 assists over the final 12 games of the season.

Stockton is the NBA's career leader with 15,177 assists and 3,128 steals. He holds huge leads over the second-place players in both categories.

He is only the third point guard to play in the league after age 40.

Over his 18-year career, Stockton has averaged 13.2 points, 10.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 2.8 turnovers while shooting 51 percent from the floor.

Utah brought in Spanish point guard Raul Lopez this summer, a first-round draft pick in 2001. O'Connor said the Jazz would like to sign a third point guard, but it's clear Stockton will run the show.

"We expect John to still be John," O'Connor said. "Anybody who wants to know more about basketball would be wise to sit at his right elbow and learn."

Stockton had surgery on his elbow after the season but, as always, he refused to discuss it.

"I'm fine. I feel good," he said.

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