Valley of the Suns
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Phoenix Suns: Top 15 best draft picks in franchise history

By Adam Maynes

PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns moves the ball upcourt during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - FEBRUARY 19: Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns moves the ball upcourt during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at US Airways Center on February 19, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 2: Mark Eaton #31 of the Phoenix Suns boxes out against Kurt Rambis #31 of the Phoenix Suns during a game played on November 2, 1990 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 2: Mark Eaton #31 of the Phoenix Suns boxes out against Kurt Rambis #31 of the Phoenix Suns during a game played on November 2, 1990 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1990 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Not a good offensive player at all, Mark Eaton is one of the greatest shot blockers in the history of the game.

When he retired, he was second in NBA history in blocks with 3,064, and to this day is still fourth all-time, even though he retired 25 years ago. His 3.5 blocked shots still rank as the most blocks per game in a career and his 5.6 blocks per game in 1984-85 remains the most blocks per game in a single season.

Seriously, how crazy was his stat line that season?: 9.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.6 blocks. He even recorded four triple-doubles with points, rebounds and blocks that year, missing out on several others by a single notch here or there.

Eaton averaged at least 3.4 blocks per game in each of his first seven seasons, and at least 4.1 from seasons two through five. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in both 1984-85 and 1988-89, and made the All-Defense first or second team from 1984-85 through 1988-89.

The problem is, he recorded all of these stats and achieved every one of those accolades, playing for the Utah Jazz.

Drafting Eaton in the third round in 1982, Eaton played his entire career with the Jazz, one of stellar health, missing only nine games in his first 10 seasons. However, when Utah selected him, he was already 26 years old, having been an auto mechanic in Phoenix and not actually playing basketball in college until he was 20.

After his sophomore year at Cyprus Junior College, the Phoenix Suns drafted him with the 107th overall pick, 19th in the 5th round in 1979, three years before Utah. However, Eaton decided to remain in college, transferred to UCLA, at one point receiving advice on how to defend the basket from Wilt Chamberlain, and the rest, as was stated above, is history.

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