Former Notre Dame standout and NBA big man Orlando Woolridge has died from a chronic heart condition, according to a report from the Shreveport Times.

He was 52.

Woolridge, a crucial player on Notre Dame's 1978 Final Four team and a longtime stalwart in the post in the NBA, had reportedly been suffering from the heart issue for several years and had been in hospice care for several months, according to the report.

The 6'9" forward struggled with substance abuse issues that derailed what was an extremely promising career in its early stages.

Woolridge was a standout in college, playing a key role in the Irish's run to the Final Four in 1978. While the team would never again reach such lofty heights, the big man guided the team back to the Big Dance in 1980 and 1981 and was named a second-team All-American in 1981.

He was selected sixth overall in the 1981 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and immediately emerged as a potent scorer, averaging 16.5 points in his second year in the pros. By the time Michael Jordan arrived on the scene in 1983-84, Woolridge was firmly established as a versatile scorer on the wing. The big man averaged 22.9 points per game in 1984-85, the first of three consecutive seasons averaging 20 or more points.

However, Woolridge's production began to slip a year after leaving the Bulls, hitting its nadir during the 1987-88 season, when he was suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He found his stride again in Denver, thriving and averaging 25.1 points per game in 1990-91.

The forward hung up his sneakers after a tour in Philadelphia in 1993-94 and moved into coaching positions in the ABA and the WNBA.

More recently, Woolridge had a run-in with the law back in February after being charged for stealing $1,500 worth of aluminum pipes used to pump fresh water to a natural gas dig site. He'd been living with his parents in Mansfield, La., for several months while in hospice care, according to the report.

No information has been released about a public memorial service or funeral arrangements at this time.