Former Notre Dame and Bulls star Orlando Woolridge dies

Orlando Woolridge had been in hospice care for chronic heart condition

MANSFIELD, Louisiana – Former Detroit Piston and Chicago Bulls star Orlando Woolridge has died. He was 52-years-old

His days at Notre Dame

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Officials told the newspaper that Woolridge had been under hospice care for a chronic heart condition at his parents' home in Mansfield, Louisiana. Woolridge was part of Notre Dame's Final Four team in 1978 as a freshman.

His NBA career

Woolridge had a 13-year NBA career after being taken with the sixth overall pick by the Bulls in 1981. He played five seasons in Chicago, averaging 22.9 points per game in 1984-85, Michael Jordan's first in the league. He signed with the New Jersey Nets as a free agent after the 1985-86 season and was suspended in 1987 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He went on to play for the Lakers, Nuggets, Pistons, Bucks and Sixers and finished with career averages of 16 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

Trouble with the law

Woolridge was arrested in February for stealing aluminum tubing at a drill site in Desoto Parish. The material was sold for scrap.

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