Death
Musselman suffered a stroke on October 30, 1999, following Portland's preseason game against the Phoenix Suns. Musselman, who had served as head coach during the game after Mike Dunleavy was ejected, collapsed after leaving the arena. In April 2000, he was diagnosed with primary systemic amyloidosis, a disease that produces an abnormal protein that collects in tissues and interferes with the function of organs. He died on May 5, 2000, at 2:45 a.m., at the age of 59, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The cause of death was heart and kidney failure.
The Trail Blazers used Musselman as an inspiration for their 2000 playoff run, which ended in the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In the team's 2000-01 media guide, which was dedicated to Musselman, he was described as "a keen strategist and an inspiring motivator."
Read more about this topic: Bill Musselman
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