Mark Aguirre

Mark Aguirre is a retired professional basketball player and assistant coach. He played and coached in the National Basketball Association. He is a two-time NBA Champion while with the Detroit Pistons, and a three-time NBA All-Star.

Player Profile and Personal Life

Mark Anthony Aguirre was born on December 10, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois in the United States of America. He stands 198 cm tall and his weight was last listed at 105 kg. He is right-handed and he played small forward.

He is of Mexican descent and has considered playing for Mexico in international events including the 1992 Olympics.

High School and College Career

He attended Austin High School in Chicago. He then transferred to the George Westinghouse College Preparatory High School in Chicago. Later, he committed to play for DePaul University. He averaged 24.5 points while playing for DePaul.

Professional Career

Aguirre was the first overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks for the 1981 NBA Draft. Throughout Mav’s history, Aguirre remains the player to have been drafted by the Dallas Mavericks as the No.1 overall draft pick.

His impact while playing for the Dallas Mavericks was huge. He was Maverick’s dominant player and was considered their main weapon.

At the beginning of the season, Aguirre averaged 18.7 points. His first season with the Mavs made the team improve its status by winning 13 games. The following year, he averaged 22 points per game making the team continuously raise their status level. At the end of the second season, the Mavs managed to end up in sixth place in the league.

In his third season with Dallas, Aguirre continued to dominate the game. He averaged 29.5 points per game and finished the season with a total points of 2,330. With the help of Rolando Blackman, Brad Davis, and Pat Cummings, their team was able to finish second and make it to their first playoff trip.

Aguirre’s years with Dallas were a journey of ups and downs. During the 1984-1985 season, they were not able to continue playing for the playoffs when they lost their game against the Portland Trail Blazers. But they made a significant comeback the following year. Mavericks were able to defeat the Utah Jazz and had a face-off with the Lakers in the conference semifinals. During this playoff, Aguirre averaged 25.7 points.

With the skills that Aguirre has shown the league, he made it to the All-Star Team for the 1986-87 and 1987-88 seasons. Aguirre is a force to be reckoned with. To this day, he still holds the highest individual single-season scoring average for the Mavs.

In 1989, he started playing for the [Detroit Pistons]]. While with the Pistons, he helped them win two NBA Championships. In 1993, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. He retired in 1993.

From 2002-2003, he was an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers and from 2003 to 2008, he served as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks.

Career Highlights

• 1989, 1990 - NBA champion
• 1984, 1987, 1988 - NBA All-Star
• 1980 - Naismith College Player of the Year
• 1980 - Adolph Rupp Trophy
• 1980 - USBWA Player of the Year
• 1980 - AP Player of the Year
• 1980 - UPI Player of the Year
• 1981 - Sporting News College Player of the Year
• 1980, 1981 - Consensus first-team All-American
• No. 24 retired by DePaul Blue Demons
• 1978 - Mr. Basketball USA
• 1978 - Third-team Parade All-American
• 1978 - McDonald's All-American

Career Statistics

• Points - 18,458 (20.0 ppg)
• Rebounds - 4,578 (5.0 rpg)
• Assists - 2,871 (3.1 apg)

• College Basketball Hall of Fame, 2016

Team History:

As a coach:

• 2002–2003 - Indiana Pacers (assistant)
• 2003–2008 - New York Knicks (assistant