Mark West: ‘I’ll always assume I’m going to win any game I play’
May 17, 2011, 2:03 AM | Updated: 2:26 pm
Their odds aren’t great. But as the saying goes, “you can’t win if you don’t play.”
The Suns unfortunately are playing the lottery and Mark West expects to win. “I’ll always assume I’m going to win any game I play.”
West, the Suns vice president of player programs, will represent the club Tuesday night when the NBA holds its Draft Lottery.
“You’re there. You’re in the lottery you might as well think you’re going to win. Why play? I don’t think anybody goes and [plays] the state lottery thinking ‘Oh, I’m going to lose let me spend this dollar,'” West said.
The Suns have a 0.6% chance at the number-one overall pick and a 2.2% chance of moving up to a top 3 selection.
Of course the Suns find themselves in the lottery for the second time in three years because of their failure to make the playoffs.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t make the playoffs,” said West, who spent almost half of his 17-year NBA career with the Suns. “To be in this position because we didn’t win is unfortunate. But you can’t look at it as a stumbling block, you have to look at it as a stepping stone to do better moving forward.”
Back in 2009, head coach Alvin Gentry made the trip to New Jersey when Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver opened the envelope to reveal the Suns would stay put and select 14th. Right now the odds favor the Suns picking 13th come the draft next month.
West, the 30th overall pick of the 1983 draft, said he’s not superstitious but is open to any and all suggestions.
“I believe in some prayers so a whole lot of prayers would work. I’ll take that. I’ll take whatever will hopefully get us into that Top 3.”
And what of his duties up on stage in front of the TV cameras?
“Smile and play the role while you sit there and hope that you get that one, two or three pick.”
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Suns have never had the #1 pick or the #3 pick Suns have twice had the #2 pick: ’69 Neal Walk and ’87 Armon Gilliam Suns since 1987 have not drafted higher than #7, which they did in 1988 (Tim Perry) and 2004 (Luol Deng)
