By BRIAN A. LESTER

Maybe it's just me, but the thought of the Utah Jazz without John Stockton and Karl Malone is hard to imagine.

It's a thought we all might have to get used to, however, as early as next season.

Go ahead, try to ignore the fact that Stockton is seriously considering retirement or that Malone has hinted at wanting to be traded to a title contender. It will do no good.

The underlying reality here is that come the start of next season, the Jazz could very well be taking the court minus their two most recognizable stars for the first time since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. OK, so Stockton and Malone haven't really played that long, but it sure seems that way.

But then, how can it not seem that way when the two cornerstones of Utah have long defined stability in a league riddled with change. Players move from team to team in the hopes of landing more money, classic arenas become parking lots and true rivalries have gone the way of the record player. Through it all, though, Stockton and Malone have remained a tandem fans could always count on seeing come game time.

Sure, an NBA title or two would have been a nice addition to Stockton and Malone's stellar list of achievements, but the Jazz, like every other title contender in the last decade, had the misfortune of being at their best when Michael Jordan and the Bulls were even better.

Still, Stockton and Malone deserve props for everything they have done for not only the Jazz, but the game of basketball as well.

Stockton, in 18 seasons with the same franchise, has fashioned a career worthy of the Hall of Fame. For starters, he is the NBA's all-time leader in steals and assists. He was third on the team in scoring (13.4 points per game) this year and dished out nearly 10 assists (8.2) per outing. On top of that, he is a 10-time NBA All-Star and has played an entire regular season 15 times.

Malone's career hasn't been too shabby either, and like Stockton, he has a spot in the Hall of Fame waiting for him.

The Mailman has delivered over and over again during his 17 years in the league to keep the Jazz at a high level. This past season, he led the team in scoring with his 22.4 ppg average. He has been the Most Valuable Player in the regular season twice and has won two All-Star MVP trophies. To top it all off, he is second all-time in the NBA in points scored and has dropped in 2,000 points or more in a season 11 times.

Impressive to say the least, and it's no surprise that Utah has been one of the better teams in the Western Conference over a long period of time. Together, Malone and Stockton have been a part of 17 winning seasons in Utah, five Midwest Division championships and two trips to the NBA Finals.

Those days seemed like distant memories Monday night. The Jazz were bounced from the playoffs by the up and coming Sacramento Kings, 91-86, despite fighting hard for four closely played games.

The loss symbolized more than just the end of the season for the Jazz. It represented the end of an era. Maybe Stockton and Malone will stick around for another year, but more than likely, that won't happen.

And that means the Utah Jazz will never be the same again. It's just not possible without Stockton and Malone running the show.

Brian Lester is a sports writer in Ohio and can be reached via e-mail at BAL4@hotmail.com.