Mark Eaton, a prominent figure in basketball history, dedicated his entire NBA career (1982-1993) to the Utah Jazz. Towering at 7'4", he was renowned for his defensive prowess, earning him two NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and a place in the NBA All-Defensive Team five times. Eaton's impact on the game is solidified by his numerous accolades, including leading the league in blocks four times and holding NBA records for single-season blocks (456) and career blocked shots per game (3.5). His legacy is further cemented by the Jazz's retirement of his No. 53 jersey.
1936: Frank Lubin's Olympic Participation
Tom Lubin's uncle, Frank, played on the 1936 U.S. Olympic basketball team.
January 24, 1957: Birth of Mark Eaton
Mark Edward Eaton was born on January 24, 1957.
1973: Blocks Became Official Stat
It is worth noting that blocked shots were not officially recorded as a statistic in the NBA until Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's fifth season in the league, which was the 1973-74 season. This context highlights the significance of Eaton's later accomplishments in blocked shots.
1973: Previous Record for Blocked Shots
The previous record for most blocked shots in an NBA season was set in the 1973-1974 season by Elmore Smith.
1975: High School Graduation
Mark Eaton graduated from high school in 1975.
April 1977: Discovery by Tom Lubin
Mark Eaton was discovered by Tom Lubin in April 1977, while working as an auto mechanic.
1978: Enrollment at Cypress College
Mark Eaton enrolled at Cypress College in 1978 to play basketball.
1979: Drafted by the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns drafted Mark Eaton in 1979.
1980: Marriage to Marci
Eaton married his wife, Marci, in 1980. Marci, a registered nurse who trained in Los Angeles, worked as a nurse in Santa Monica, supporting Eaton financially while he attended college.
1980: Junior College Success
Mark Eaton led Cypress College to the California junior college title in 1980.
1980: Transfer to UCLA
Mark Eaton transferred to UCLA in 1980.
1981: Playing Under Larry Brown
Mark Eaton played sparingly under coach Larry Brown at UCLA in the 1980-1981 season.
1982: NBA Debut with the Utah Jazz
Mark Eaton began his NBA career with the Utah Jazz in 1982.
1982: Drafted by the Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz drafted Mark Eaton in 1982.
1983: Domination in Blocks
Eaton's dominance in blocked shots is evident in his performance from 1983 to 1989, a six-season span during which he led the league in blocks four times and finished as the runner-up twice.
1983: Breakthrough Season with the Jazz
Mark Eaton had a breakthrough season with the Jazz in 1983, leading the NBA in blocks per game and helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time in his career.
1984: Scoring Peak
Eaton reached his career-high scoring average of 9.7 points per game during the 1984-85 season.
1984: Record-Breaking Season for Blocked Shots
In the 1984-1985 season, Mark Eaton shattered the NBA record for most blocked shots in a single season.
April 26, 1985: Ten Blocks in a Playoff Game
Mark Eaton recorded ten blocks in a playoff game against the Houston Rockets on April 26, 1985.
1985: Reflection on Limited Playing Time
In 1985, Mark Eaton reflected on his limited playing time at UCLA, feeling it was the time he felt the most cheated.
1985: NBA Defensive Player of the Year
Mark Eaton was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1985.
1986: Leading the League in Blocked Shots
Mark Eaton led the NBA in blocked shots during the 1986-1987 season.
November 17, 1987: Career-High in Rebounds
Mark Eaton set a career-high with 25 rebounds in a game against the Denver Nuggets on November 17, 1987.
1988: Continued Dominance in Blocked Shots
Mark Eaton continued to be among the league leaders in blocked shots in the 1987-1988 and 1988-1989 seasons.
1989: Sustained Dominance in Blocks
From his second to his seventh season (1983-1989), Eaton maintained an impressive average of 4.3 blocks per game across 488 games, underscoring his consistent impact on defense.
1989: Playoff Upset and Strategic Challenges
In 1989, the Utah Jazz, the second seed, faced a surprising upset in the playoffs, losing 3-0 to the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors. The Warriors, under coach Don Nelson, employed a strategy of spreading out their offense and avoiding Eaton in the paint, utilizing a smaller lineup to neutralize his impact. This tactic, combined with opponents increasingly employing smaller lineups, posed challenges for Eaton as he was forced to guard quicker players on the perimeter. To counter this, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan reduced Eaton's playing time and adopted a smaller lineup with backup center Mike Brown.
1989: NBA All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year
Mark Eaton was named an NBA All-Star and received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1989.
1989: Second Defensive Player of the Year Award and All-Star Selection
Mark Eaton won his second NBA Defensive Player of the Year award and was selected to his first All-Star game in 1989.
1990: Decreased Playing Time
Eaton's playing time decreased to 32 minutes per game in 1990, down from previous seasons. This was a result of the strategic challenges posed by opponents' smaller lineups, forcing the Jazz to adapt their approach.
1991: Speculation and Continued Role
In 1991, there was speculation that the more offensively-oriented Mike Brown might take the starting center position from Eaton. However, coach Jerry Sloan continued to start Eaton, although his playing time further decreased to 25 minutes per game.
1992: Injuries Impact Performance
Eaton's performance was hampered by knee and back injuries in the 1992-1993 season, limiting him to 64 games and a career-low average of 17.3 minutes per game.
1993: End of NBA Career
Mark Eaton's NBA career with the Utah Jazz ended in 1993.
1993: Injuries Lead to Reduced Playing Time
During the 1992-1993 season, knee surgery and persistent back problems significantly limited Eaton's playing time, contributing to a career-low average of 17.3 minutes per game.
September 1994: Retirement Announcement
After a successful 11-year career with the Utah Jazz, Eaton announced his retirement from basketball in September 1994. His decision was prompted by a degenerative back condition that persisted despite therapy and forced him to miss the entire 1993-1994 season. His contract with the Jazz expired at the end of that season.
1994: Retirement from Playing
Mark Eaton retired from playing basketball in 1994.
1996: Jersey Retirement
In recognition of his significant contributions to the team, the Utah Jazz retired Eaton's number 53 jersey in 1996, a testament to his lasting legacy with the franchise.
1997: Leadership in Retirement
Eaton's commitment to basketball extended beyond his playing days. He served as president and board member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) from 1997 to 2007, demonstrating his dedication to supporting fellow players after their careers.
2007: End of Tenure with NBRPA
Eaton concluded his tenure as president and board member of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) in 2007.
2010: Utah Sports Hall of Fame Induction
In 2010, Eaton received further recognition for his athletic achievements when he was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame, alongside former Jazz teammate Tom Chambers.
2013: Memorable Moment in Slam Dunk Contest
Eaton was involved in a memorable moment during the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest when Jazz player Jeremy Evans jumped over him (while seated) to complete a dunk.
2014: High School and College Jersey Retirements
Eaton's impact on basketball extended beyond the NBA. In 2014, both Westminster High School and Cypress College honored him by retiring his jersey, acknowledging his influence on the sport at those institutions.
2016: Custom Bike Riding
Around 2016, Eaton started riding a custom-built road bike designed for tall cyclists. This French-made bike was equipped with 36-inch wheels to accommodate his height.
May 28, 2021: Death of Mark Eaton
Mark Eaton passed away on May 28, 2021.