Rudy Gobert honors Mark Eaton with jersey, Karl Malone wears Jordan Clarkson threads to Game 1

The Utah Jazz of the past and present were honored by each other prior to Game 1 of the team’s second-round playoff series against the LA Clippers on Tuesday night.

Current Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert arrived at the game donning a white throwback jersey of Mark Eaton, who died unexpectedly at the age of 64 on May 28, while Jazz Hall of Famer Karl Malone showed up at the game wearing a navy blue Jordan Clarkson jersey.

Earlier Tuesday, Clarkson was donning a Kobe Bryant No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers jersey as Utah prepared to face their fellow City of Angels foe.

Gobert and Eaton had been close, as they shared the commonalities of being dominant interior defensive forces, winners of multiple NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and being named All-Stars.

In addition to Gobert’s Eaton jersey, the Jazz are also honoring Eaton with an addition of his No. 53 to the jersey patch they have worn this season honoring the late Jerry Sloan.