Former Utah Jazz Center Mark Eaton Dead At Age 64

Mark Eaton, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year Who Spent his entire NBA career with Utah Jazz, passed away at age 64.

Former Utah Jazz basketball player Mark Eaton has died at the age of 64. According to the authorities, he died after crashing his bicycle in Summit County, Utah.

The Summit County Sheriff's Office said they received a call on Friday around 8:30 p.m. from someone who said they'd found an unconscious man lying in the road. 

Later, when the officers reached the scene, they found Eaton, who seems to have been involved in a bicycle crash on Friday. The NBA athlete was transported to a nearby hospital as soon as possible, but unfortunately, he passed away.

Former Utah Jazz player Mark Eaton has died at the age of 64.
Photo Source: Instagram

The sheriff's office said, "There were no witnesses to the bicycle crash, and there is no reason to believe a vehicle was involved in the incident." However, the medical examiner's office will determine his cause of death.

In a statement, the Utah Jazz said that they were saddened at the unexpected passing of Mark. They also mentioned that he was an enduring figure in their franchise history and significantly impacted the community after his basketball career.

Though Mark was retired, his presence continued around the organization as a friend and ambassador while giving back as a businessman and volunteer to his adopted hometown in Utah. The Utah Jazz extended their deepest condolences to his wife, Teri Eaton, and their family.

Many deemed Eaton a basketball legend, was scouted by a community college basketball coach while he was working in Arizona as an auto mechanic, as said by the NBA. After he played at Cypress College and UCLA, the Jazz drafted him in 1982.

The Jazz drafted the 7-foot-4-inch Eaton in the fourth round of the NBA Draft. He played for 11 seasons at center with the Jazz and became a defensive standout. 

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Eaton was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year during his career and has the fourth-most blocks in league history. He still holds the record for most blocked shots in a season, amassing 456 blocks during the 1984-85 season.

After he retired from the game in 1993, he only further established himself as a member of the Salt Lake community. Besides being a former basketball player, Eaton was a restaurateur, the owner of Tuscany's and Franck's in Holladay. 

Similarly, Mark also became an author and a motivational speaker. He was also a friend and mentor to the Jazz's current All-Star center, Rudy Gobert.

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