The news that Mookie Blaylock, a former N.B.A. point guard, was involved in a car accident over the weekend hit the members of Pearl Jam like a tragedy in the family. In many ways, it was one.

After all, before Pearl Jam was called Pearl Jam, the band was called Mookie Blaylock. The band’s first album, “Ten,” which became one of the iconic albums of the 1990s, was named after Blaylock’s jersey number.

“I was a huge Mookie fan,” Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam’s bassist, said in an interview.

Out of all the players in the world, why Blaylock? He had quick hands and made the All-Star team once, but he was hardly a franchise player.