Former NBA Star Mark West to Speak at ODU Thursday
The M.B.A. program in Old Dominion University's College of Business and Public Administration will host ODU graduate Mark West for a discussion of ethics, education and life in the National Basketball Association at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, April 10. West, who graduated in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in finance, is the assistant general manager and vice president of player programs for the Phoenix Suns and a former NBA player.
His talk, which is free and open to the public, will be in room 1002 of Constant Hall. Pizza and beverages will be provided during the presentation.
West's career spanned 17 years in the NBA with several teams. He came to the Suns with Kevin Johnson in a trade with Cleveland in 1988. In addition to his eight-year tenure with Phoenix, he played for Dallas, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit and Indiana.
In his current role with the Suns, West carries out a range of duties focusing on the business of basketball, player relations and development and community representation. He also serves as the team liaison for the NBA Player Development Program administered by the league.
A licensed stockbroker since 1992, West led the NBA in field goal shooting percentage in 1989-90 (.625) and currently ranks second in that category in NBA history (.580), trailing only Artis Gilmore's .599 rate.
West and his wife Elaina, a 1985 ODU graduate, have two sons, Markus and Markyle.