One of the most popular Phoenix Suns on the court, Mark West joined the club’s front office in 2001 and has been the team’s Vice President of Player Programs since March 2006. In his role, West carries out a range of duties focusing on the business of basketball, player relations and development and community representation. West also serves as the team liaison for the NBA Player Development program administered by the league.
West was a member of the Suns from 1988-94 and then again in the 1999-2000 season. He currently ranks third in NBA history in field goal percentage (.580) behind only Shaquille O’Neal (.582) and Artis Gilmore (.599), and West led the NBA in shooting in 1989-90 when he shot 62.5 percent from the field.
West came to the Suns with Kevin Johnson in a trade with Cleveland on Feb. 25, 1988, and Phoenix had a 335-180 (.650) record from 1988-89 to 1993-94 with at least 53 victories in each season and a run to the 1993 NBA Finals. In addition to his eight-year tenure with Phoenix, West played for Dallas, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit and Indiana.
Born in Fort Campbell, Ky., West graduated from Old Dominion in 1983 with a degree in business administration, and earned a master’s degree in business administration in 2010 from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Elaina, have two sons, Markus and Markyle.