Mark Warkentien
Encyclopedia
Mark Warkentien was the general manager of the Denver Nuggets
of the NBA
. He was named as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Nuggets on September 7, 2006. He was hired by the New York Knicks
on January 30, 2011 as a Consultant to the president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh
.
which sent Andre Miller
to Philadelphia for Allen Iverson
, and the second transaction sending Iverson to Detroit to return Denver native Chauncey Billups
home.
Before his current position, he was in the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers
as Director of Player Personnel and then became the interim GM for the latter half of the 2004-05 season
. Before working for Cleveland, Warkentien worked for the Portland Trail Blazers for ten seasons. During his time in Portland, Warkentien held many positions. He was a scout, then promoted to Director of Scouting and the became assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers
from 1998
-2003
and spent the next season
as Director of Player Personnel.
His NBA career began in 1991
with the former Seattle SuperSonics
, where he spent three years as scout.
He also coached several Southern California
college basketball
teams, before joining Jerry Tarkanian
's coaching staff as an assistant at UNLV.
In March 2009 Warkentien was mentioned in Sports Illustrated's as mid-seasons Executive of the Year and again in April 2009
He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award
for the 2008–09 NBA season
. His transactions included sending Allen Iverson
to the Detroit Pistons
for Chauncey Billups
, and signing free-agent Chris Andersen
, while moving the Nuggets under the luxury tax at the same time.
On August 3, 2010, the Nuggets declined to extend Warkentien's contract, ending his four-year association with the team.
On January 30, 2011 The New York Knicks
agreed to hire former Denver Nuggets
General Manager Mark Warkentien as a high-level consultant.
as a part of the school's 1976 graduating class. Warkentien is married to the former Maureen Trivisonno and has 2 daughters, Kreigh Dannette and Aubrie Jane.
Warkentien's daughter Kreigh appears to be following in her father's footsteps. Kreigh was recently named the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas [UNLV]...the same school where her dad coached prior to coaching in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He was named as Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Nuggets on September 7, 2006. He was hired by the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on January 30, 2011 as a Consultant to the president of basketball operations Donnie Walsh
Donnie Walsh
Joseph Donald Walsh Jr., better known as Donnie Walsh is a former professional basketball coach, and former president of basketball operations for the New York Knicks.-Biography:...
.
Career
He was elevated to Vice President of Basketball Operations in 2006, replacing the released Kiki Vandeweghe shortly after the season ended. In his time in Denver he made two blockbuster deals, one involving the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
which sent Andre Miller
Andre Miller
Andre Lloyd Miller is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association.- College career :...
to Philadelphia for Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
, and the second transaction sending Iverson to Detroit to return Denver native Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the...
home.
Before his current position, he was in the front office of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
as Director of Player Personnel and then became the interim GM for the latter half of the 2004-05 season
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
. Before working for Cleveland, Warkentien worked for the Portland Trail Blazers for ten seasons. During his time in Portland, Warkentien held many positions. He was a scout, then promoted to Director of Scouting and the became assistant general manager for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
from 1998
1998-99 NBA season
The 1999 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association . Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999 after a new six year Collective Bargaining Agreement was reached between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association...
-2003
2002-03 NBA season
The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs beating the New Jersey Nets 4-2 in the 2003 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
and spent the next season
2003-04 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves*Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers*Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers...
as Director of Player Personnel.
His NBA career began in 1991
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
with the former Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
, where he spent three years as scout.
He also coached several Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
teams, before joining Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian , also known as "Tark the Shark", is a retired college basketball coach known as one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history...
's coaching staff as an assistant at UNLV.
In March 2009 Warkentien was mentioned in Sports Illustrated's as mid-seasons Executive of the Year and again in April 2009
He won the NBA Executive of the Year Award
NBA Executive of the Year Award
The National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best general managers. Before 2009, the Executive of the Year is presented annually by Sporting News, although it is officially recognized by the NBA. Since then,...
for the 2008–09 NBA season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
. His transactions included sending Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American professional basketball point guard and shooting guard. He was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the number one pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season...
to the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
for Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Ray Billups is an American professional basketball point guard for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association . He has also played for Team USA. Billups won the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, helping the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals, and was given the...
, and signing free-agent Chris Andersen
Chris Andersen
Chris Andersen is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association...
, while moving the Nuggets under the luxury tax at the same time.
On August 3, 2010, the Nuggets declined to extend Warkentien's contract, ending his four-year association with the team.
On January 30, 2011 The New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
agreed to hire former Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
General Manager Mark Warkentien as a high-level consultant.
Personal life
Warkentien graduated from Cal-State FullertonCalifornia State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
as a part of the school's 1976 graduating class. Warkentien is married to the former Maureen Trivisonno and has 2 daughters, Kreigh Dannette and Aubrie Jane.
Warkentien's daughter Kreigh appears to be following in her father's footsteps. Kreigh was recently named the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas [UNLV]...the same school where her dad coached prior to coaching in the NBA.