Valley of the Suns
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12 days of X-Mas – Obscure stats in Suns history Day 9

By Adam Maynes

(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers' basketball coach Roy Rubin huddles with three of his players at team's pre-season training camp at University of Scranton's John Long Center here, 9/12. From left to right are Rubin, 6-10 John Block of Maryland; 6-2 Hal Greer of Marshall and 6-7 Gary Gregor of South Carolina. 76ers open season September 21 against Baltimore Bullets in NBA exhibition.
(Original Caption) Philadelphia 76ers' basketball coach Roy Rubin huddles with three of his players at team's pre-season training camp at University of Scranton's John Long Center here, 9/12. From left to right are Rubin, 6-10 John Block of Maryland; 6-2 Hal Greer of Marshall and 6-7 Gary Gregor of South Carolina. 76ers open season September 21 against Baltimore Bullets in NBA exhibition. /
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Armen Gilliam

SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: Armen Gilliam of the Utah Jazz (R) is bumped on a drive to the basket by Cliff Robinson of the Phoenix Suns late 06 April, 2000 in Salt Lake City, UT. AFP PHOTO GEORGE FREY (Photo credit should read GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UNITED STATES: Armen Gilliam of the Utah Jazz (R) is bumped on a drive to the basket by Cliff Robinson of the Phoenix Suns late 06 April, 2000 in Salt Lake City, UT. AFP PHOTO GEORGE FREY (Photo credit should read GEORGE FREY/AFP/Getty Images) /

In General Manager Jerry Colangelo’s quest for a star bigman, he missed out on the opportunity to select first overall in 1987 following the draft lottery’s selection of the San Antonio Spurs to draft first overall, and future superstar David Robinson.

Colangelo instead chose 6’9″, 230lbs power forward, Armen Gilliam, “The Hammer.”

Gilliam was a dominant power forward in his Junior season at UNLV, his last, and seemed like an ideal consolation prize for Robinson.

His rookie season began very sluggishly. Apparently very nervous in his first career game, he hurt his toe in the third quarter and missed the next two months of the season. The Suns, already seriously depleted due to constant injuries to key players, would be further hurt with the loss of their rookie power forward, went 11-16 over that stretch.

Statistically, Gilliam’s rookie year was underwhelming, but successful, as he averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. Gilliam received zero votes for Rookie of the Year, although he led all rookies in both scoring and rebounding aberages .

Gilliam’s second season was more of the same, underwhelming, his stats were very similar to his rookie campaign.

By the start of his third season, Gilliam had fallen out of favor with Suns coaching and management due to an overwhelming personality trait of laziness, and after appearing in only 16 games, 7 of which he had started, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Kurt Rambis and two second round picks, one of which was used to later select Negele Night.

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