Mark Eaton, shot-blocking king and Jazz legend, dies at 64

The former NBA’s defensive player of the year and shot-blocking icon, Mark Eaton, has passed away at the age of 64. Eaton, standing at 7-foot-4, spent his entire career with the Utah Jazz. He was honored as the NBA’s defensive player of the year twice.

The team announced his death Saturday.

On Friday night in Summit County, Utah, Eaton departed his home for a bike ride. Shortly after, a call was made to 911 when he was found unconscious and lying on a roadway. Eaton was transported to a hospital where he subsequently passed away.

“The team stated, referencing county officials who conducted an investigation, that ‘there is no reason to believe a vehicle was involved in the incident’.”

In a statement, the Jazz portrayed him as a “lasting figure in our franchise history” who made a “substantial contribution in the community following his basketball career.”

The passing of Utah Jazz legend Mark Eaton has left us deeply saddened.

Our thoughts are with his family as we all mourn the loss of a great man, mentor, athlete and staple of the community. pic.twitter.com/HkINyLF9ix

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) May 29, 2021

Before Game 3 in Memphis on Saturday night, Utah coach Quin Snyder expressed that the team’s thoughts and prayers are with Eaton’s wife.

“Mark was a friend to us all. His relationship with Rudy Gobert, in particular, exemplifies his character and his ability to listen,” said Snyder. “His provision of advice and support was truly unique. We will undoubtedly miss him.”

The center topped the league in blocks per game on four occasions, and his 5.6 average per match in the 1984-85 season still holds the record for the highest average since the NBA began officially recording this statistic.

Eaton holds the highest career blocks average in NBA history with 3.51 per game, a career that almost didn’t happen. In 1977, he was an auto mechanic until a community college basketball coach convinced him to enroll. After that, he attended UCLA and subsequently joined the Jazz.

“Eaton revealed his unique past in a story posted on the Jazz website two years ago. “My journey to the NBA is certainly unconventional,” he said. “I entered the league with just two years of junior college experience under my belt and having spent two years on the bench at UCLA. Frank Layden took a risk on me when the team was in a position to tolerate a few of my mistakes while I found my footing. It turned out to be a good move for both parties.”

In his retirement, Eaton held various roles, including that of a restaurateur and motivational speaker. In recent years, he also mentored Rudy Gobert, the center for Utah, who is the only other player in Jazz history to receive the defensive player of the year award.

“His performance was truly remarkable,” said Mike Inglis, a veteran NBA broadcaster who currently serves as the Miami Heat’s radio voice, on Saturday. “I would often refer to him as the human condominium complex. His defensive skills were simply extraordinary, believe me.”

Eaton passed away just days after he was in Chicago, celebrating his friend Joe West’s achievement of setting a new baseball umpiring record by officiating his 5,376th regular-season game on Tuesday night.

He ranks third in team history for the most playing seasons with the Jazz, just behind Karl Malone and John Stockton, two longstanding pillars of the Utah team. His resilience was remarkable, with a record of appearing in 338 games without a break. He concluded his career with an average of 6.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

His greatest talent, however, was guarding the basket. He once shared a narrative about receiving career advice from Wilt Chamberlain. He used this story in an inspirational talk, emphasizing to others that the first rule of success is understanding your role.

To my great mentor and friend @markeaton7ft4 , one of kind and an amazing human being, i’m grateful for your presence in my life over the years. Gonna miss our conversations. But i know you’ll be watching. pic.twitter.com/XDvEJTPCwp

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) May 29, 2021

Eaton recounted, “Wilt seized my arm and led me to the court, placing me directly in front of the basket. He told me, ‘Do you see this basket? Your task is to prevent players from reaching it. You are to make them miss their shot, secure the rebound, toss it to the guard, and allow them to score at the other end. Then, your job is to leisurely advance to half-court and observe the situation.'”

“Eaton stated, “Wilt’s shared insights were transformative for me. They clarified my role and how I could excel. They also made me realize that my actions could make a significant impact on my team.”

Additionally, Eaton served as an officer in the National Basketball Players Association. The union released a statement on Saturday expressing that his absence will be deeply felt.

The NBPA statement confirmed, “Although it sounds cliched, it is the truth: Mark Eaton was a giant in every possible way. Serving on the NBPA Executive Committee continuously until his 1994 retirement, Mark supported his peers with dignity and power. He also remained a guardian for them through his work with the Retired Players Association. His towering physical stature was beautifully complemented by his kind and considerate demeanor.”

The NBA mourns the passing of Mark Eaton, a Utah Jazz legend and former president of the Retired Players Association. Mark was an All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and beloved member of our league. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends. pic.twitter.com/7AjsqwMwpt

— NBA (@NBA) May 29, 2021

The Jazz were one of the first teams to retire Eaton’s No. 53 jersey. He was named the defensive player of the year in 1984-85 and 1988-89, made the All-Defensive team five times — three times on the first team and twice on the second — and earned an All-Star spot in 1989.

In the 1979 draft, he was selected as the 107th overall pick by Phoenix and was subsequently drafted at No. 72 overall by Utah in 1982. He remained with the team until his last game in 1993. However, his career was cut short due to back problems, leading him to retire in September 1994.

“Eaton announced his retirement in a column for The Salt Lake Tribune, writing, ‘It has been a wonderful journey, yet life inevitably moves forward and I must follow suit. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your life and community. I’m not going anywhere.'”

Eaton, true to his word, stayed a mainstay in Utah for the rest of his life.