Editing Utah Jazz (section)

====1998–2003: Final years of Stockton/Malone====
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In the [[1998–99 NBA season|1999 season]], shortened to 50 games due to a [[1998–99 NBA lockout|lockout]], the Jazz finished 37–13, tied with the Spurs for the best record in the league. They defeated the [[Sacramento Kings]] in five games in the first round of the [[1999 NBA playoffs|playoffs]]. However, they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]]. Despite yet another disappointment, Malone was awarded his second MVP.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jorgensen |first=Loren |title=Over and Out <br /> MVP an MIA in Jazz's latest playoff failure |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/699486/Over-and-out-MVP-an-MIA-in-Jazzs-latest-playoff-failure.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102165036/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/699486/Over-and-out-MVP-an-MIA-in-Jazzs-latest-playoff-failure.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 2, 2013 |newspaper=Deseret News |date=May 28, 1999 |access-date=March 19, 2011 }}</ref>

During the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000]] season, the Jazz finished 55–27 and won the Midwest Division but again struggled in the [[2000 NBA playoffs|postseason]], and lost to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in the second round. In the off-season, Hornacek retired and [[Howard Eisley]] was traded in a four-team deal that brought in [[Donyell Marshall]]. They selected high-school basketball star [[DeShawn Stevenson]] in the first round of the [[2000 NBA draft]].

In the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01]] season, the Jazz posted a 53–29 record, but lost in the playoffs, surrendering a 2–0 series lead in the first round of the [[2001 NBA playoffs|playoffs]] to the [[Dallas Mavericks]] to lose the series 3–2. This was their earliest exit from the playoffs since the 1994–95 season.

In the [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02]] season, [[Andrei Kirilenko (basketball)|Andrei Kirilenko]] made his rookie debut, averaging 10.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.91 blocks per game. The team started the season slowly, with a record of 16–15 over the first two months, and finished 12–13 to go 44–38 overall. They lost to the [[2001–02 Sacramento Kings season|Sacramento Kings]] 3–1 in the first round of the [[2002 NBA playoffs|playoffs]].

Prior to the [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03]] season, Marshall and Russell moved on to other teams. [[Matt Harpring]] was brought over from the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], and took over the starting forward spot next to Malone, averaging 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds, the best numbers of his career. The Jazz approached 50 wins going into the [[2003 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], but ended up falling short with a record of 47–35. They faced the [[Sacramento Kings]] in the playoffs again, and lost in a five-game first-round series, 4–1.

After the season, Stockton retired, and Malone left as a free agent to join the [[Los Angeles Lakers]].