Utah Jazz: An Interview With Defensive Legend Mark Eaton
Recently I had an opportunity to interview one of the greatest defenders to ever play the game of basketball, Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton. During his playing career, Eaton received a number of accolades including the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award twice, he was an NBA All-Star and was on the NBA All-Defensive team five seasons.
We had an interesting conversation ranging from Kevin Durant being the best player in the NBA, to how Hakeem Olajuwon still gives him nightmares, and everything else basketball related under the sun. Learn more about his story (here), more importantly, check out his website 7ft4.com and check out the awesome interview we had.
We created a culture of the Jazz that point in time, that’s still in place today.
DM: What are you doing in your post-NBA career?
ME: Currently I’m doing motivational speaking in the area of teamwork and team building. I do about 70 to 80 presentations a year for corporations and professional associations. I share a little bit of my story and how I became an NBA player and what I learned on the way, about what it is to be a great team and a great team member.
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DM: Speaking of being a great team member, who would you attribute that to? What coach either in college or in the NBA would you attribute that to?
ME: It’s a variety of experiences I had starting with my junior college coaches, one of which was coach John Wooden’s first All-American player, Don Johnson, and the things he taught me. Much of which was the UCLA way of playing basketball and team first and foremost.
As I went along my journey I had Wilt Chamberlain help me a lot early on when I was at UCLA at understanding what my role was on the team.
What my very objective was when I was out there, was to play defense and help my teammates. Coming into the NBA working with Frank Layden and coach Jerry Sloan. If we took care of each other on the court, and made each other look good, protect each others back then the individual accolades would show up, the wins would show up.
We created a culture of the Jazz that point in time that’s still in place today.
DM: Speaking about the Jazz, fill in the blank for me on this question “The thing that made John Stockton great was ______”
ME: Tenacity, his integrity and his work ethic. Along with having extraordinary natural skills of court vision and an incredible desire to win.
DM: Were going to continue with the fill in the blank theme “My greatest accomplishment in the NBA was ________” I know you made the All-Star game a few times, you won Defensive Player of the Year, an All-NBA Defensive Team member.
Me: Being on a winning team 11 of the 12 seasons in the NBA.
DM:The player I hated guarding the most was _______
ME: Oh that’s easy, Hakeem Olajuwon. We were in the same division so we played them like every other week. His soccer background, and the foot speed he had in a 7-foot body, he completely re-engineered what the center position was all about.
*On a side note: In the 1988-89 NBA season, Hakeem Olajuwon became the only player in NBA history to record 200 blocks and 200 steals in the same season.
Thanks for the stat Mr. Eaton!
Who currently is your favorite player to watch in the NBA?
Kevin Durant No. 1, even though he’s hurt now. I enjoy watching him play. He by far is my favorite player. His quickness, his agility, he’s like the complete player. I’ll take you inside, I’ll take you outside. I’ll dunk on you, I’ll block your shot. He’s fantastic.
DM: Do you think he’s better than LeBron James?
ME: Hmmm. That’s a good question … LeBron’s got the rings.
DM: We can scratch off the rings. Not even one on one. Five on five, who would you rather have on a team?
ME: I’m going with Kevin Durant. I have partial big man bias, but so be it.
DM: Speaking of the Northwest Division’s best player, let’s go to one of his rival teams. Your former team the Utah Jazz. The Jazz can make the playoffs if they______
ME: Hmmm, that’s a big one this year. Lets see, the Jazz can make the playoffs this year if they … really learn how to play defense together …. the key starts just like when we were under Frank Layden as a coach, believe in your teammates.
DM: Gordon Hayward becomes a top 15 player if he does____?
ME: Learns how to find his spots on the floor, and runs the floor. I think it’s predicated on his ability on how to defend, he’s a great open floor player and of course that’s predicated on the defense.
DM: What do you feel the state of the NBA is right now?
ME: I think the NBA is in a great place right now. They’ve done a lot of things for to incorporate the international presence. Not only with the NBA (events like the Global Games) but also with the international players that are playing in the league.
The game’s changed, we don’t see as much low post offense as we used to, instead its the high post and a lot more ball movement which is good. The NBA is in a very healthy place right now, with the new TV package coming up in a year or two. Just look at those numbers.