Mark McNamara

Mark Robert McNamara (June 8, 1959 – April 27, 2020) was an American professional basketball player who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round (22nd pick overall) of the 1982 NBA draft.

Mark McNamara

Personal information
Born	(1959-06-08)June 8, 1959 San Jose, California, U.S.
Died	April 27, 2020(2020-04-27) (aged 60) Nevada, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school	Del Mar (San Jose, California)
College	Santa Clara (1977–1979) California (1980–1982)
NBA draft	1982: 1st round, 22nd overall pick
Drafted by	Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career	1982–1993
Position	Center / power forward
Number	31, 35
Career history
1982–1983	Philadelphia 76ers
1983–1984	San Antonio Spurs
1984–1985	Kansas City Kings
1985–1986	Cortan Livorno
1986–1988	Philadelphia 76ers
1988–1990	Los Angeles Lakers
1990	Orlando Magic
1991	Murcia
1991	Real Madrid
1992–1993	Rapid City Thrillers
Career highlights
NBA champion (1983) Third-team All-American – UPI (1982) First-team All-Pac-10 (1982)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference

A 6'11" power forward-center from the University of California, Berkeley, McNamara played in eight NBA seasons from 1982 to 1985 and from 1986 to 1991. He played for the 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Kansas City Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic. McNamara also dabbled in acting and appeared in the 1985 TV movie "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor".^[1]

NBA career

Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, he spent his rookie season with the team. Playing alongside Moses Malone, McNamara averaged 2.2 points and 2.1 rebounds per game across 36 games, and earned his only NBA championship with the 76ers.

McNamara's best statistical year as a professional came during the 1983–84 season as a member of the Spurs, appearing in 70 games and averaging 5.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg.

In his NBA career, McNamara played in 278 games and scored a total of 980 points.

Post-NBA

McNamara was an assistant coach of the boys' basketball team at Haines High School in Haines, Alaska, and led the team to two state titles.^[2] McNamara helped with basketball camps around Alaska.

Death

McNamara died on April 27, 2020, at age 60. He reportedly died of heart failure, culminating from years of cardiac issues.^[2]

NBA career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high
†	Won an NBA championship

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1982–83†	Philadelphia	36	2	5.2	.453	–	.444	2.1	.2	.1	.1	2.2
1983–84	San Antonio	70	3	14.8	.621	–	.471	4.5	.4	.2	.2	5.5
1984–85	San Antonio	12	0	5.3	.667	–	.500	1.4	.0	.2	.1	2.8
1984–85	Kansas City	33	0	6.4	.483	–	.523	1.7	.2	.2	.2	2.4
1986–87	Philadelphia	11	1	10.3	.467	–	.368	3.3	.2	.1	.0	3.2
1987–88	Philadelphia	42	18	13.8	.391	–	.727	3.7	.4	.1	.3	3.6
1988–89	L.A. Lakers	39	0	8.2	.500	–	.628	2.6	.3	.1	.1	2.9
1989–90	L.A. Lakers	33	1	5.8	.442	–	.650	1.9	.1	.1	.0	3.1
1990–91	Orlando	2	0	6.5	.000	–	–	2.0	.0	.0	.0	.0
Career		278	25	9.7	.512	–	.548	3.0	.3	.1	.1	3.5

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1983†	Philadelphia	2	0	1.0	1.000	–	–	.5	.0	.0	.0	2.0
1987	Philadelphia	1	0	2.0	1.000	–	–	1.0	.0	.0	.0	2.0
1989	L.A. Lakers	3	0	2.3	.500	–	.500	.3	.0	.0	.0	1.0
1990	L.A. Lakers	2	0	2.5	.250	–	–	.5	.0	.0	.0	1.0
Career		8	0	2.0	.556	–	.500	.5	.0	.0	.0	1.4

Film

McNamara worked as a stand-in for Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca on the set of Return of the Jedi.^[3]