Eric Walden

Jazz beat writer

Eric is a West Valley City native and a graduate of Granger High School and the University of Utah who joined The Tribune in 2003. He hoards rescue cats and guinea pigs, reads historical fiction, watches British baking shows, and obsesses over 1980s hair-metal bands in his spare time.

(Rick Bowmer | AP) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) watches after laying the ball up over New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Salt Lake City.

As TNT crew criticizes Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz vow, ‘They’re going to have to watch us anyway’

By Eric Walden | January 22, 2021, 3:39 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) defended by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) as the Utah Jazz host the New Orleans Pelicans, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.

After beating Pelicans Tuesday at Vivint Arena, Utah Jazz now prepare for … the Pelicans Thursday at Vivint

By Eric Walden | January 20, 2021, 11:04 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley (10) defended by New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) as the Utah Jazz host the New Orleans Pelicans, NBA basketball in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.

Utah Jazz’s win over Pelicans sees them continue their ascension toward being NBA’s best 3-point-shooting team

By Eric Walden | January 20, 2021, 6:28 a.m.

Utah Jazz guard Miye Oni (81) defends against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Joe Ingles’ absence has been Miye Oni’s opportunity to make an impact in the Utah Jazz’s rotation

By Eric Walden | January 18, 2021, 10:23 p.m.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson, front left, is trapped in the corner with the ball by Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris, front right, and center Isaiah Hartenstein in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Utah Jazz find a way to fight through low-energy slog and beat Denver for a fifth straight win

By Eric Walden | January 18, 2021, 6:03 a.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) takes the ball inside as LA Clippers forward Serge Ibaka (9) defends, in NBA action between the Utah Jazz and the LA Clippers at Vivint Arena, on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.

No, Bojan Bogdanovic doesn’t have a permanent wrist issue. He does have a temporary process to get through.

By Eric Walden | January 16, 2021, 6:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) Jazz center Derrick Favors (15), react as the Jazz extend their lead, in NBA action between the Utah Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks at Vivint Arena, on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.

‘Get stops and run’: Aggressive defense, efficient fast break fuel Utah Jazz’s win over Atlanta Hawks

By Eric Walden | January 16, 2021, 6:05 a.m.

Madison Square Garden is empty of fans, before an NBA basketball game between the Utah Jazz and the New York Knicks on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in New York. (Wendell Cruz/Pool Photo via AP)

Eric Walden: Is it time for the NBA to hit the pause button on this season?

By Eric Walden | January 15, 2021, 7:08 p.m.

(Carlos Osorio | AP) Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) goes to the sideline to talk with head coach Quin Snyder during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, in Detroit.

The Utah Jazz went 4-2 on their shortened road trip. Here’s what worked and what didn’t.

By Eric Walden | January 13, 2021, 11:55 p.m.

Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson, right, drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers' Isaac Okoro during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Georges Niang, Jordan Clarkson, Miye Oni give Utah Jazz some breathing room in blowout win in Cleveland

By Eric Walden | January 13, 2021, 4:49 a.m.