Armen Gilliam (formally Armon) played in the NBA for 13 seasons, averaging nearly 14 points and seven rebounds a game, spread out with six different teams. The former 1987 No. 2 overall pick died Tuesday night, ironically while playing basketball in Collier Township, Pennsylvania.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes:
Gilliam, who lived in Bethel Park, collapsed while playing a game of pickup basketball. He was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead at 9:28 p.m., according to the Allegheny County coroner’s office.
Gilliam was 47.
It’s being reported that the cause of death was a heart attack. Gilliam was known for being a huge part of UNLV’s 38-game winning streak and march to the Final Four in 1987, as well as his physical play, which earned him one of the greatest nicknames ever, “The Hammer.”
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