Orlando Woolridge, a cousin of Knicks Hall of Famer Willis Reed and a member of the Nets for two of his 13 NBA seasons, died at his parents’ home in Mansfield, La. Woolridge was 52.
Woolridge, whose tour with the Nets ended after he was suspended in 1988 for violating the NBA’s drug policy, had been under hospice care for a chronic heart condition, according to DeSoto Parish Chief Deputy Coroner Billy Locke. Woolridge died Thursday night, Locke said.
Woolridge starred at Notre Dame, helping the Fighting Irish to the 1978 Final Four before becoming the sixth pick in the 1981 draft by the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 16.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists in the NBA before retiring in 1994.
“For me, he always had a smile. He was pleasant to be around, was upbeat and a terrific athlete. He could run and jump with anybody. He was a good player,” said Sixers president Rod Thorn, who drafted Woolridge in Chicago. “It’s just way too early for him to go. I feel sorry for his family and kids.”
Woolridge played five seasons in Chicago, averaging 22.9 points in 1984-85. He signed with the Nets as a free agent for the 1986-87 season with the Bulls receiving a future first-round pick (Stacey King) and two seconds (Shelton Jones and Stanley Brundy). In 94 games over two seasons in New Jersey, Woolridge averaged 19.8 points and hot 50.7 percent from the field.
But after 19 games in 1987-88, Woolridge was banned by the league for drugs. His episode led to the NBA fining the Nets $25,000 for failing to report the player’s suspected drug use after drug paraphernalia was found in his hotel room during training camp.
“I offer my condolences to his family,” former Nets executive vice president Jim Lampariello said yesterday. “It’s a shame he died at such an early age. He had a wild ride with the New Jersey Nets. He was a nice man who went down the wrong road.”
Woolridge signed with the Lakers in 1988 and played two seasons in Los Angeles before moving on to Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Woolridge played two seasons in Italy, including a European Cup and Italian Cup season with Benetton Treviso in 1994-95 under former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni. He later coached the L.A. Sparks of the WNBA.
In February, Woolridge was arrested for stealing $1,500 aluminum piping that he intended to sell for scrap, the Shreveport Times reported.
Woolridge is survived by three children, Zachary, Renaldo and Tiana; his parents, Mattie and Larnceen; his sister, Dr. Vanessa Woolridge Duplessis; his brother-in-law, Darren Duplessis and his nephew, Nigel Duplessis.
fred.kerber@nypost.com