The best Utah Jazz players of all time have lately become a hot topic. Yes, it is that time of the season where nothing happens, we have to come with Jazpant throw to talk about. With all the buzz that goes around, a jazz legend got the props he earned for an all time: Mark Eaton.
When people talk about the best jazz defender in team history, the name that immediately comes up is Rudy Gobert, and for a good reason. He is not only the most accomplished jazz defender the team has ever had, but one of the best peripheral protectors in the NBA history. However, Eaton makes the subject of the best jazz defender disputable.
Andy Bailey from Bleacher Report committed for Eaton while ranking him as the best player of seven foot-four who once played in the NBA.
“And after his 11-year career, he withdrew as the all time leader in career average for blocks per match (an honor that he still holds) and multi-time defense player of the year winner,” Bailey wrote.
“Eaton on average more than four blocks per match in four different seasons. And in 1984-85 he led the competition in both defensive rebounds (8.8) and blocks (5.6) per game.”
It is certainly an unorthodox list, but the fact remains that Eaton was an excellent basketball player whose business card was what he could do for defense. His efforts played a hand in placing the jazz on the map in the 80s and 90s. He perhaps only made one All-Star team, but his impact on the field was not forgotten by the franchise because they did not retire his number too long after his retirement.
The jazz may have achieved more during the Karl Malone and John Stockton era after Eaton’s retirement, but that does not take away the legacy he has made for himself in Utah. All those years later, Eaton, who died in 2021, definitely earns it to get these props.
The Eaton ranking is more impressive than you think
Eaton may not have been a superstar, but he left his mark on both jazz and the NBA! There have not been so many players who are seven foot-four, but there have been some quality players around that height.
That includes Ralph Sampson, an excellent NBA player whose prime was cut far too short, Rik Smits, who was an excellent piece that was incorporated into many of the successful play -off runs of the Indiana Pacers, Boban Marjanovic, who was better as an internet meme than an NBA player, but still bite her player, but boggler, bite of the player, bite the player with the player, bij. -Dey.
Eaton gets the kink more reflects on the type of player he was. It is more than 30 years ago that he played for the last time, but he deserves every posthumous recognition he can get.
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