Inside The NBA Crew Remembers Mark Eaton 🙏 

Mark Eaton happened to be on a flight with my family back in the 1980s, my brother had cancer and had a shaved head, Mark came over to him and introduced himself to our family. He signed some stuff for my brother and was super nice, he later sent a signed basketball with everyone from the 86' Jazz.

I’m so sorry to hear about Mark Eaton. Too young. I used to work at the “University of Utah” basketball camps when I was in college and after the day was over some of the Jazz players would come down and play. Eaton, Thurl Bailey, and some others would play and I was able to get in one game. He was very nice to me and one time after the game had ended and said I was a good player….he asked my name and one time (I was a bouncer at a restaurant/bar in Trolley Square in Salt Lake City)he came in and met some Jazz guys and Ute coaches…when he came in he said: “Hi Lewis”. I never forgot that. He seemed to be a really good guy. I am really sorry to hear about this. 😢😢😢😢

I remember when he blocked someone without even jumping or swatting the 🏀. RIP Mark.

Big Facts Chuck, they haven’t mentioned much about Shawn Bradley.

It’s awful to see all these nba legends die. Rip to the big guy

One of my best memories as a fan was seeing Mark hit a three pointer.

Mark Eaton seemed like a smart man off the court and a great defensive player on the court.

First Shawn gets injured badly - now Mark Eaton - let's please keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers

Only center who gave the Dream fits during his early years.

RIP to a real one

Thanks to all of you for the kind words to us Jazz Fans and NBA fans. Thanks Charles for mentioning Shawn, love watching all three of you play. Love your takes. So great to see all of us being good to each other. Thanks for your examples

Mark Eaton you will be remembered and the nba will never forget you

Thank you for this, Inside. From the bottom of a Utah Jazz fan’s heart. I had the privilege of speaking to him so many times at meet and greets ever since I was 4 or 5 years old. When I first met him, I didn’t even stand as tall as his knees, but he always made me feel 10 feet tall with his kindness. Gentle giant off the court, game changing defender on the court. RIP Jazz legend!

I watched him play basketball, in Pauley Pavilion, when we were students at UCLA. Was so happy to see him develop into an NBA star. RIP Mark Eaton.

All-time record holder of 456 blocks (5.6 per game) in 1985.

My fond memories of him was his battle with Kareem.. our condolences to his family.

You can tell Ernie is struggling not to cry. Rip Mark

Love Charles for what he said about Shawn Bradley.

Hey Mark give Kobe a hug for us will ya. RIP Mark Eaton

Watched him growing up. Sad day. RIP Sir

This crew does the best tributes. Love these guys rip Eaton

Thoughts and prayers to the Eaton family. Very surprised & saddened at his passing. Always heard good things about Mark on & off the court. Sure could guard the paint. R.I.P.

Just heard the news RIP to Mark Eaton

R.I.P !!! its crazy how many greats we are losing

we love you mark and will never forget you.

Dang, Mark Eaton was an amazing person! 😔

I will never forget when I was about 10 years old I went on a family cruise and they had a dance floor on the ship and I saw the biggest human being I had ever seen in my life out there dancing with this tiny woman 😂, being a kid I went up to him and said hi and it turned out to be Mark Eaton!!! RIP 🙏🏾

RIP Mark Eaton. You will be remembered.

The 80s and 90s Jazz were my TEAM!! Saw him speak when I was a kid in salt lake. R.I.P to a big figure into my fanaticism of Basketball💔

Frank Layden said it best - "I cant teach height" but, he taught a 7'4" man to be a all-star and defensive player of the years 5 times. RIP Mark

The first person I witnessed blocking everybody’s shot

What they said at hall of fame ceremony is so true, this show is about so much more than basketball, it's about life, that's why i love watching it.

My favorite center man R.I.P to the legendary shot-blocker.

I REMBER SEEING HIM WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL ON A FIELD TRIP TO UCLA, HE WAS WALKING HE WAS SO TALL WE WERE LIKE WOW., RIP BIG MAN

Mark Eaton - the man, the legend. I’ve met him just once back in the Delta Center days and first impression was as expected: humble, down to earth, open minded, genuine, and our short conversation just flowed at such a comfortable level and we didn’t know each other. It saddens me hearing he has passed prematurely. Rest in peace Mark. Definitely will be missed. One of the great guys in the world.

Thanks to the crew for their kind words about an NBA legend. May you rest in peace, Mark Eaton.

Mark Eaton R.I.P. awesome player. Underrated Player in my opinion. I'm real glad they FINALLY mentioned Shawn Bradley.

Gods speed Mr. Eaton. Gods speed.

Eaton seems like a great, nice man. Frankly, his interviews on You Tube are some of my the best ones I've heard.

Rip mark Eaton one of Utah's greats and a legend of the game defended that rim everytime he played that man was serious

All payers go to his family and friends🙏🏼🙏🏼. As a rockets fan, that man gave us problems, but all my respect is all to him. R.I.P Mark Eaton.

Man, this caused me to tear up. May Mark Eaton's memory always be a blessing to all who knew and loved him.

First time I saw Mark he was in a Saab 900 driving on the freeway. I saw him sitting where the back seat would normally be. I heard he had it modified to fit him. Then, I met Mark at work. Our boss was 5'6", I'm 5'11". I shook Mark's hand and it literally covered my hand...and about half my forearm! Dude was huge but his heart was bigger. Such a nice man. RIP from a life-long Jazz fan.

Wow. Prayers out to the Eaton family. Prayers out to the Bradley family.

The very first NBA game that my dad took me to was the Jazz vs the Pistons during the 88-89 season at The Palace of Auburn Hills. I was really amazed when I noticed how tall Laimbeer, John Salley, and James Edwards were. But when I noticed how tall Mark Eaton was my jaw dropped. It's like he didn't even have to jump to dunk the basketball. He was an excellent defender and seemed like one of the good guys in the NBA. Prayers and condolences to his family and friends.

Thanks for this tribute. I have been a Jazz fan my entire life. I ate at his Restaurant once a year. Big loss.

The best NBA player to come out of Westminster High!

I think there’s a story where Eaton met Wilt and helped him with learning how to block shots

The master of the no jump tomahawk dunk AND block.

RIP to the Legendary Mark Eaton, God Bless 👑🙏🏽🕊

Finally my man Eaton get his respect on Defense... Dude was a beast... Holds the record for most blocks in a season... Rip my guy

RIP, i remember going to my friends house and i was the jazz, mark had 15 blocks and 40 points. My friend was so mad. RIp to a legend

Rip mark eaton,fly high brother....fly high

Legends live forever

He was a mechanic in 1977 and was seen by an assistant coach and the rest is history.

Rip legend🙏🏾

R.I.P Mark will always be a great guy wow can't believe it 😭 🙏 such a great basketball 🏀 player

Nicest man, just cant believe it, rest in peace

rip to a legend

Good player. Great character. Complimented the Utah team he played for. Condolences to his family. 💯

Really nice of you Charles, to shout out to Bradley. That's really really nice of you.

May he Rest In Peace what a great man he has gone to young

I went to Cypress Junior College with Mark when he just started playing. The team was led by Ron Davis. #1 in US Junior College. I played against or with most of them but wasn’t on the team. He was actually discovered working underneath a car and a coach saw how long he was as I heard it. He was asked about possibly playing basketball and ended up coming to Cypress who were coached by Don Johnson who played for Coach Wooden at UCLA By chance Swen Nater also played at Cypress and next went to UCLA. I think Swen came and helped Mark get his footwork and shot going. Mark in turn ended up helping other big men at the gym also. I saw him in the summer generally. He was a very pleasant guy. I’m so sorry to hear this. I’m a year older at 65. I still play. Tomorrow I’ll shot some free throws left handed as a small show of respect. Although I’m right hand. A simple gesture.

I want to live such that people will speak of me this way when I'm gone. R.I.P. Mark Eaton.

A product of Westminster CA and alumni of Westminster High School. Rest in peace

I just saw this now & it really hit me. He really was a gentle giant, one of the good guys in life regardless if he played basketball or not. RIP Mark

Rest without stress good guy!🙏🏽

RIP Mr. Eaton, great shot blocker and a gentle giant.

What a great player What a great human being Much love to the mountains man family

I was listening to an interview and was watching highlights of him like 2 weeks ago. R.I.P. Mark.

I remember meeting him once. Nice man. God bless his family. 🙏🙏

First Shawn Bradley and now Mark Eaton. RIP Mark Eaton and get well soon Shawn Bradley

If Stockton and Malone had a prime Mark Eaton when they went to the finals, I believe they could have won atleast 1.

R.I.P. Legend

I used to watch mark Eaton in the 80s I enjoyed see him play sad he's gone I will remember him

For pushin 70 he looked great. RIP

One of the great defensive big men. R.I.P.

This is why Inside the NBA is the best show (not just sports) on TV. It’s just so raw and real.

Rip to an all time great 🙏

Rest In Peace Mark Eaton

Got to meet Mark and listen to him speak. He was the nicest guy you'd ever meet, clearly loved people, and was a great man. I was shocked to hear of his passing. May he rest in peace. He's the greatest rebounder of all time.

Rip to the “ Mountain man”

Rip mark Eaton all time defensive great

R.I.P. Mark Eaton my condolence goes out to his family and friends and we tremendously lost someone that was full of light and will forever be a kind man both on and off one of the all time greats to play the game and wonderful human being R.I.P. Mark Eaton 1957-2021 ❤️❤️❤️😢😢😢🕊🕊🕊

🙏🙏🙏🙏My condolences to Mark and all of his friends and family.

I'll finish Shaq's story about Mark; Mark was an auto mechanic down here in SoCal(Anaheim) CA where he was discovered while working on cars by then Cypress College(JC) Assistant Coach Tom Lubin. The Head Coach was the famed Don Johnson(RIP 2019) who also played for UCLA like Mark. Mark credited the coaches of Cypress College for changing the coarse of his life and setting him on his journey to the NBA. He always came back to see Coach Johnson and I was fortunate enough to play pick up ball at the college with Mark and his friend Eric Leckner. Rest Easy Big Fella.

RIP Utah legend

Man these Bicycle accidents are crazy. Makes me wanna not buy a bike after these events first it was Shawn Bradley Now its Kevin Clark and Mark Eaton. Prayers up for those three.

RIP Mark. Sad to hear

One of my fav defensive players ever since i was a kid, Nothing but RESPECT for this man R.I.P

Definitely a legend. RIP, big man.

I met Mark and his wife one day when I was working the front desk at a hotel. I had no idea who he was, but they were incredibly kind people. I made generic small talk with Mark about the local weather and attractions. I remember some dude at the nearby bar called out his name, and he waved back. I thought he must've just been a teacher or part of a conference or something. Someone later told me who he was. Super nice guy. Sorry to his wife and fans.

Ah man. I hadnt heard this. Such a great. I caught a Nuggets/Jazz game in Denver in the early 90s. We got into the arena early to see warmups and the hardest working warm session was Mark Eaton. Obv never forgot it, it made such and impression. Naturally gifted, and worked so hard developing himself. A loss.

One of the greatest defensive big men ever to play the game, and one of the underrated players ever. His career stat lines may not be eye popping, but an All-Star appearance, two time DPOY and the best career average in blocks, he made his living by blocking shots. RIP to Mark Eaton.

He was sitting on my same row during the jazz game on Sunday. This is just absolutely insane. 🪦 RIP 🪦

I just watched the segment of Undisputed of them roasting Draymond Green. Mark Eaton was one of the guys they mentioned. Rest in peace

R.I.P to Mark Eaton l used to use him in 2k with the Jazz he was a beast😔😢

I was lucky enough to know Mark personally. He was a gentleman. The gentle giant. An incredible story. So sad to hear of his shocking loss today.

When I was a teenager I worked at Supersonic Car Wash in Salt Lake City Utah.. Mark Eaton came through and I believe he was driving a Cadillac. I had the privilege of detailing the inside of his car and he gave me an autograph. Very nice guy. RIP Mark and thanks for the memories. 👊🏀

Shout out from one MonStar to another, good on you Chuck.