RealGM

So I was just looking at the All-time Jazz player list and saw that Mark Eaton is the favorite all-time Jazz center. Unquestionably he was a remarkable and unique defensive player, but I was struck at his very pedestrian career scoring (5.9 pts a game) and rebounding averages (7.9 rebs a game) . Is his rebounding average so low because of the astronomical blocked shot totals or did he gamble a lot and miss rebounds because he was often out of position? Or was it because Malone was a prolific rebounder?
Can you think of another player's who has a retired jersey from any team whose career averages in points, assists, blocks, steals and rebounds all total less than 20? I guess the question is - is Mark Eaton's career overrated?

Big Mark was spectacular. If you converted the shots that he either blocked or altered into his ppg average, he would have been near 30 ppg.

Regarding his rebounding numbers, you bring up an interesting question. Watching the defensive philosophy of the Jazz back then, the Jazz really gambled a lot, and pressured in the backcourt because they knew they had Eaton behind them. Eaton was an excellent shot blocker on and off the ball. I think you've nailed the biggest reason - Malone was a terrific rebounder. But i think another reason is that Big Mark was so often near the ball trying to block or alter a shot, that it took him out of rebounding position. The vast majority of rebounds go to the opposite side of the shot. At any level of basketball (HS, college, pros) the coaches preach getting opposite side of the shot and blocking out. If the shot misses short, the player challenging the shot should be in position to block that player out. If there was a player on the block posting up, then he is already out of position for the rebound as he has boxed himself out.

Mark Eaton had a few great years with high rebounds and blocks. He was never a scorer. He's was a defensive center that blocked shots. He clogged the lanes and in general made it difficult for any team to score in the paint. If you average his points over the good years of his it brings it up to around 8 points per game and 9.5 rebounds. Nothing spectacular but when you add in the 4.5 blocks per game average that is pretty good.

Plus the Jazz have never had a center that was any better especially defensively.

The most underrated part of his game was his passing. Mark Eaton threw the best fast break starting outlet pass of any big man I can recall. I swear most of those Malone "hammer dunks" were started off an Eaton to Stockton outlet pass.

Mark Eaton was a good rebounder, he just played few minutes..

Career PER36: 9.9rpg, not bad considering he started at age 25 and played through the age of 36.

In 84-85 he led the league in total defensive rebounds and total blocks. He played all 82 games and averaged 9.7 points, 11.2 total rebounds and 5.6 blocks/game.

Jesus Christ. 6 blocks per game. Eaton, let your family look after the restaurant a while; you're probably still the best defensive big man we could field.