Jazz center Mark Eaton said due to a back injury and age, his playing minutes next year will likely be limited to about the same as they were last year.
"I think it will be similar minutes to last year," said Eaton, Monday. "That's what we're looking at. I'm getting to that point in my career."Eaton, 37, was slowed last season, first by preseason knee surgery and later by back troubles. He played just 64 regular-season games and 1104 minutes - both career lows.
He added that while resting his back this summer, the recovery has been "slow but sure."
"It's starting to get a little better," he said. "But I'm still not at the point where I can run."
With training camp only six weeks away, Eaton said he is doing isometrics and light biking. "But the trick is trying to push myself to where there is some semblance of conditioning, without pushing things too far."
While Eaton reported for training camp last fall in perhaps the best condition of his career, he admitted "that's not going to be the case this year."
He said the back injury - officially termed an inflamed lumbar disc - has kept him from training this summer. "I just have to realize my timetable isn't the same as training camp," he added.
The Jazz open training camp Oct. 8 at Dixie College in St. George.
Though back problems could spell the end for Eaton's career, he said he doesn't see that happening. "I think I'll be OK to play as long as I don't push it too fast, too soon," he said. "I just have to take it at my own pace."