Mark Eaton: podcast appearances and interviews

Mark Edward Eaton (January 24, 1957 – May 28, 2021) was an American professional basketball player known for his career with the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. During his playing years from 1982 to 1993, Eaton established himself as one of the best defensive centers in NBA history. He was named an NBA All-Star in 1989 and received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award twice, in 1985 and 1989. Eaton was also a five-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team and led the league in blocks four times. His records for blocks in a single season and blocks per game average remain notable, and his career blocked shots per game average was 3.5. Off the court, Eaton served as the chief development officer at Recipe Unlimited Corporation. He initially played high school basketball as a reserve and worked as an auto mechanic before being discovered by a college assistant coach at Cypress College. Eaton transferred to UCLA to continue his college basketball career but was used sparingly. Drafted in the fourth round of the 1982 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, he was seen as a long-term project who contributed significantly to transforming the Jazz from a last-place team into a perennial playoff contender. Eaton retired in 1994, ranking second in NBA history at the time in career blocks, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.