Utah Jazz: The 50 greatest players in franchise history
By Matt Giles
All-time greatest Utah Jazz players: No. 45 Ben Poquette
- Seasons with the franchise: Four (1979-80 to 1982-83)
- Regular-season games played: 321
- Averages as a Jazzman: 9.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 blocks
- Shooting percentages: 50.7 from the field, 30.4 from three, 78.8 from the foul line
- Playoff games with Utah: None
Gentle Ben.
A former second-round pick out of Central Michigan by the Detroit Pistons back in 1977, Ben Poquette arrived for the Jazz’s first season in Utah a few years later and then saw his four best seasons as a pro with the franchise.
The 6-foot-9 forward twice finished among the top 10 in the NBA in blocked shots per game (1979-80 and 1980-81).
However, despite also reaching 11.0 points per game across his final season in Salt Lake City and serving as a durable defensive specialist in the paint in each of his Jazz campaigns, none of the Utah teams he played for reached the playoffs. Therefore, Poquette’s limit here is No. 45.