Armen Gilliam, the second overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, died Tuesday night near Pittsburgh after suffering a heart attack during a pickup basketball game, WTAE-TV reported Wednesday.
Gilliam, 47, was rushed to a hospital after he collapsed during the game at an LA Fitness in the Pittsburgh suburb of Collier Township, Pa., according to the report.
Nicknamed "The Hammer" for his physical style of play, Gilliam led UNLV to the Final Four in 1987, and a few months later was drafted No. 2 by the Phoenix Suns. Gilliam went on to play in the NBA until 2000 with the Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz.
The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds during his career. He averaged double figures in points in 10 of his 13 seasons.
The Pennsylvania native changed his first name from Armon to Armen early in his NBA career, saying he had grown tired of people mispronouncing it. Gilliam played professionally as recently as 2006, coming out of retirement at age 42 for one season to serve as player-coach for the Pittsburgh Xplosion of the American Basketball Association.
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Gilliam, 47, was rushed to a hospital after he collapsed during the game at an LA Fitness in the Pittsburgh suburb of Collier Township, Pa., according to the report.
Nicknamed "The Hammer" for his physical style of play, Gilliam led UNLV to the Final Four in 1987, and a few months later was drafted No. 2 by the Phoenix Suns. Gilliam went on to play in the NBA until 2000 with the Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz.
The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 13.7 points and 6.9 rebounds during his career. He averaged double figures in points in 10 of his 13 seasons.
The Pennsylvania native changed his first name from Armon to Armen early in his NBA career, saying he had grown tired of people mispronouncing it. Gilliam played professionally as recently as 2006, coming out of retirement at age 42 for one season to serve as player-coach for the Pittsburgh Xplosion of the American Basketball Association.
To read more visit Fox Sports.com
