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Submitted: 2/10/14 • Approved: 2/14/14 • Last Updated: 3/26/18 • R35805-G0-S3
December 16, 1959 - May 31, 2012
Wooldridge was an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association from 1981–1994. He was best known for his scoring ability. At 6’9” 215 pounds, he was widely recognized for his slam dunks
Born in Bernice, Louisiana, he attended local schools, leaving to play collegiate basketball for the University of Notre Dame, who he helped guide to the NCAA tournaments in 1980 & 1981.
Selected sixth in the 1981 NBA Draft, he played five seasons for the Chicago Bulls averaging 22.9 points/game. From here, he moved on to the New Jersey Nets where he averaged 20.7 points/game.
In 1988, he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers averaging 11 points/game & providing the Lakers with consistent bench scoring around the basket. During this time his 55.6% field goal percentage ranked 5th in the league.
Being traded to the hurry-up offense team, the Denver Nuggets, resulted in Woolridge averaging 25.1 points/game & garnering a career high of 6.8 rebounds/game. Through most of this season, he led the NBA in scoring. However, in December he was sidelined due to surgery for a detached retina caused by a game collision. At this time, he was averaging 29.0 points acquiring him 3rd place in the league.
The 1991-1992 season was played with the Detroit Pistons, but the 1992-1993 season was divided between Detroit and the Milwaukee Bucks. His NBA career ended with the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1993-1994 season.
This outstanding career was highlighted with averages of 16.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, & 19.9 assists per game.
Professionally, he played in 1994-1995 for the Benetton Treviso in Italy, winning the European Cup and the Italian Cup. With the Buckler Bologna in 1995-1996, the Italian Supercup was won.
After retiring as a player, Woolridge coached the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks in 1998 & 1999. During 2008-2009, he coached the Arizona Rhinos of the ABA.
After a long battle with heart disease, Woolridge died at his parents’ home in Mansfield, Louisiana.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Woolridge
Contributed on 2/10/14 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 35805