What happened: Mark Eaton still owns the NBA single-season blocks-per-game record at 5.56. His record season also came with a 34-minute nightly workload, tying the chase to minutes as much as timing and length at the rim.

Why it matters: Per-game records are tough to move because they require elite production and enough floor time to hold that rate over a full schedule. That keeps Eaton's number relevant whenever a modern rim protector starts stacking blocks at a historic pace.

What to watch: The next marker is whether a top shot blocker carries a bigger minute load in 2026-27. If that happens, Eaton's record will come back into view quickly.