John Stockton, Numerous Doctors Sue Washington Medical Commission In A First Amendment Case

Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton dished out an NBA-record 15,806 assists on the basketball court in his career. Now, he’s provided another one in the courtroom.

The Hall of Famer has initiated a lawsuit against the Washington State Office of Attorney General for its alleged attempts to silence doctors who shared information about COVID-related matters that went against the mainstream narrative. Rick Jaffe, Todd S. Richardson, and Richard F. Kennedy Jr. have joined forces to represent Stockton and several other plaintiffs.

"The only thing we’re interested in is the First Amendment issue," Jaffe said when asked what the driving force behind the case is. "Does the medical board have the constitutional authority to investigate, prosecute and sanction doctors for writing articles, posting blogs on websites and speaking out in public, even if the government or the medical board thinks what they’re saying is wrong or dangerous?"

Stockton Is Helping Doctors Who Were Punished For Not ‘Following The Science’

In 2021, the Washington Medical Commission was highly restrictive in the information it shared about all things COVID-related. It even released a mission statement about how they would battle "misinformation," and said that any doctors who offered treatments or recommendations contrary to what the "medical professionals" set would be punished.

John Stockton is fighting alongside the numerous doctors who faced discipline for speaking out against mainstream COVID "science." (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

"It is our ethical duty to listen to our patients' concerns, course-correct when people fall prey to falsehoods, and help them make informed medical decisions that are guided by research and medical science," the statement reads on its website. "Now more than ever we must align with the oath we took to 'do no harm,' and part of that means trusting science, listening, educating and caring for our patients according to the guidelines set by the FDA, the CDC, and experts at the state health department as we work to care for and protect the people we treat."

READ: Takes One To Know One: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Likens John Stockton To ‘Dumb Jock’

The Jazz legend said that countless medical professionals have showered him with thanks for joining in this fight.

"I've received calls from people and doctors that I haven't spoken to in quite a while, and they're just so grateful," he said. "They're grateful that somebody is stepping up that has a voice. Clearly anybody can do it, but apparently I have a little bit more voice than the average citizen, and they're just grateful somebody's stepping up and say[ing], 'hey, there's something wrong here.'"

While not a doctor himself, Stockton has faced significant consequences for not succumbing to COVID hysteria. In 2022, he had his Gonzaga men’s basketball season tickets revoked because he refused to wear a mask during games. Ironically, he spent his senior season with Gonzaga from 1983-84.