Inman, who engineered Blazers '77 title team, dies at 80

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Stu Inman, who helped build the Portland Trail Blazers' 1977 NBA championship team, died of an apparent heart attack. He was 80.

Inman collapsed in his Lake Oswego home Tuesday and was pronounced dead at the hospital, his son, David, said Wednesday.

It's the Trail Blazers only title since entering the league as an expansion team in 1970.

Inman drafted Bill Walton, Geoff Petrie, Larry Steele, Lloyd Neal, Lionel Hollins, Bobby Gross, Wally Walker and Johnny Davis. He helped sign Dave Twardzik after the American Basketball Association folded, and selected Maurice Lucas in the ABA dispersal draft.

A star at San Jose State with scoring and rebounding records, Inman joined the Trail Blazers as chief scout in 1970. He became vice president of player personnel, compiled a 6-20 record as interim coach in 1971-72, and was general manager from 1981 to 1986, during which the Trail Blazers drafted Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan in 1984.

After he left the Trail Blazers, he was director of player personnel for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat.

Inman lived in Lake Oswego, and four years ago began helping Lake Oswego basketball coach Mark Shoff evaluate players.

"He had them to a T," Shoff said Wednesday. "Not only did he have them as basketball players, he had their characters, too. He took time not to prejudge people."

Shoff said he learned of Inman's death Tuesday but delayed telling his players until after a victory over West Linn. "They took it awfully hard," he said.

Inman is survived by his wife, five children and 17 grandchildren. David Inman said a service was planned for Monday in Lake Oswego.