COMMISSIONER, CONTINENTAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (Odds)

Gary Hunter, commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association, enters his third term in the league office in 2002-2003. A former NBA and NHL team executive, Hunter was named the CBA's commissioner in 1998-99 prior to selling the league to Isiah Thomas. He oversees all of the CBA's day-to-day operation.

The Kansas native served as KU assistant AD in 1985-86 and associate AD from 1986 to '88.

Nicknamed "Bear," he brings an outstanding resume to the CBA, including serving as senior executive vice president of the NBA's Denver Nuggets and NHL's Colorado Avalanche. In addition, the Council Grove, Kansas, native has worked a an athletic administrator at the NCAA division 1-A level for 10 years, has practiced law, and also served as a Municipal Court Judge in Kansas (1976-1987).

Conventional wisdom

Most recently he was the chief executive officer of Boise, Idaho-based Diamond Sports. Hunter jointed the Denver Nuggets in June 1993 after serving as athletic director at Wichita State University. He began serving a dual role for Ascent Entertainment Group, Inc., the owner of the Nuggets, when the group purchased the former Quebec Nordiques and relocated the NHL club to Denver in 1995. In addition to Wichita State, Hunter also served as athletic director at the University of Idaho (1988-1992) and served as the assistant director of athletics in 1985-86 at the University of Kansas and associate director of athletics from 1986 to 1988.

—Courtesy of CBA Hoops Online.