Utah Jazz fans won't have to wait all summer for future Hall of Fame guard John Stockton to make up his mind about playing a 20th season.

Phil Miller of the Salt Lake Tribune reports: Stockton will decide whether or not to return for the 2003-2004 season soon after Utah's season ends.

He just doesn't want the suspense to go on throughout the summer.

"I came back [to Utah] and everybody had heard about it all summer. I didn't mean for that to happen," said Stockton, embarrassed by the attention. "What I'd like to do is make the call early and go on, so we don't have to visit about it all summer."

The Jazz would also like a quick decision because they stand to have around $30 million in capspace depending on what happens with Stockton and Karl Malone, who will both be free agents at season's end.

"Maybe not the day after our last playoff game, but maybe a week after that, I'll ask him to let us know because we have to make plans either way," Jazz owner Larry Miller said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he knows now what he's going to do."