Mark Aguirre facts for kids
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Aguirre in 2007
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 10, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school |
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| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | DePaul (1978–1981) |
| NBA Draft | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall |
| Selected by the Dallas Mavericks | |
| Pro career | 1981–1994 |
| Coaching career | 2002–2008 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1981–1989 | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1989–1993 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1993–1994 | Los Angeles Clippers |
| As coach: | |
| 2002–2003 | Indiana Pacers (assistant) |
| 2003–2008 | New York Knicks (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 18,458 (20.0 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 4,578 (5.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,818 (3.1 apg) |
Mark Anthony Aguirre (born December 10, 1959) is a former American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1981 to 1994. Mark was the very first player chosen in the 1981 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
Aguirre played for the Mavericks for many years. Later, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. With the Pistons, he helped the team win two NBA championships. He was also chosen as an All-Star three times while playing for Dallas. In 2016, Mark Aguirre was honored by being inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Mark Aguirre was born in Chicago, Illinois. His mother moved to Chicago when she was young. Her family helped raise Mark. He did not meet his father until he was six years old.
Mark grew up in Chicago and played basketball on the city's west side playgrounds. He started his high school basketball career at Austin High School. When his coach left, he moved to George Westinghouse College Prep. In his senior year, he led his team to win the Chicago Public High School League championship.
College Basketball Career
Mark Aguirre played college basketball at DePaul University. He was an amazing player, scoring an average of 24.5 points per game over three seasons. His coach at DePaul was Ray Meyer.
In 1980, Mark won several top awards for college players. These included the USBWA College Player of the Year and the James Naismith Award. He was also named College Player of the Year by The Sporting News in 1981.
As a freshman in 1978–1979, Mark led the DePaul Blue Demons to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. They played against Indiana State, a team led by the famous player Larry Bird. DePaul lost that game.
1980 US Olympic Team
Mark Aguirre was chosen to be on the 1980 U.S. Olympic basketball team. However, he could not compete in the 1980 Summer Olympics because the United States boycotted the games. This meant American athletes did not go to the Olympics that year. Even though he couldn't play, Mark received a special Congressional Gold Medal for being part of the team.
After his junior year at DePaul, Mark decided to enter the NBA draft. The Dallas Mavericks picked him as the very first player in the 1981 NBA draft.
Professional Basketball Career
Mark Aguirre had a great 13-year career in the NBA. He averaged 20 points per game throughout his time in the league.
Playing for the Dallas Mavericks (1981–1989)
Mark started his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks in 1981. He stayed with them until 1989. In his first season, he played 51 games and scored 18.7 points per game. The Mavericks improved their record that year.
From 1982 to 1988, Mark consistently scored over 22 points per game. In the 1983–84 season, he averaged 29.5 points per game, which was the second-highest in the entire league. He was the Mavericks' main scorer. Other players like Rolando Blackman also helped the team.
The Mavericks made their first playoff appearance in 1984. They beat the Seattle SuperSonics but then lost to the Los Angeles Lakers. Over the next few years, the Mavericks continued to make the playoffs. In 1986, they even took the Lakers to six games in the conference semifinals.
Mark was named an All-Star in 1987 and 1988. During these years, the Mavericks won more than 50 games each season. In 1988, the team had its best playoff run, reaching the Western Conference Finals. They played against the Lakers again and lost in a close seven-game series.
Mark scored 13,930 points as a Maverick. This ranks him third in the team's history. While he was a star in Dallas, he sometimes had disagreements with his coach and teammates. Because of these issues, Mark was traded to the Detroit Pistons in February 1989. He was traded for another top scorer, Adrian Dantley.
Winning Championships with the Detroit Pistons (1989–1993)
After joining the Detroit Pistons, Mark Aguirre helped them win the NBA championship in 1989. He wasn't the main scorer anymore, but he played a very important role. He took fewer shots, played strong defense, and helped the team succeed. In the Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls, he even led the team in scoring in one game.
The Pistons won another championship in 1990, beating the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Finals. Mark averaged 11 points per game in those playoffs. In the 1991 playoffs, he scored his highest points as a Piston with 34 points in a game against the Boston Celtics. However, the Pistons lost to Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the next round. Mark played two more seasons with the Pistons. His role became smaller due to his age and injuries.
Final Season with the Los Angeles Clippers (1993–1994)
In 1993, the Pistons released Mark Aguirre. He then signed with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 1993–94 season. He played 39 games for them. By the end of that season, Mark had scored 18,458 points in his career. He retired from basketball in 1994.
After Playing Basketball
In October 2023, Mark Aguirre returned to DePaul University Athletics. He became a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director. In this role, he helps advise the Vice President/Director of Athletics and stays connected with DePaul alumni.
Personal Life
Mark Aguirre has been married to Angela Bowman since January 1988. His father was from Mexico. At one point, Mark thought about playing for the Mexico national team in the 1992 Summer Olympics. He was even offered citizenship to do so.
Honors and Achievements
- Mark Aguirre was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
- His jersey number, 24, was retired by the DePaul Blue Demons. This means no other DePaul player will wear that number.
See also
In Spanish: Mark Aguirre para niños
