Robert Traylor
Encyclopedia
Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor (February 1, 1977 – May 11, 2011) was an American
professional basketball
player.
, Vince Carter
and Paul Pierce
. He attended the University of Michigan
. Standing 6 in 8 in (2.03 m) and weighing in excess of 300 pounds, he joined a front court for the Wolverines that included Maurice Taylor
and Maceo Baston
. That year he broke a backboard
while dunking in a game against Ball State. Traylor helped lead the Wolverines to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament
title, and was named the tournament's most valuable player
. His junior year was his best, as he averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds while leading his team to the inaugural Big Ten Tournament
championship and second round of the NCAA Tournament
as a three seed.
Traylor was one of the former Michigan players whose ties to booster Ed Martin
roiled the program. During his freshman year, Traylor broke his arm in a car accident while out with teammates and recruiting prospect Mateen Cleaves
(who ended up going to rival Michigan State
). That accident triggered a six-year investigation into the Wolverine program. Martin, who died in 2003 at 69, pleaded guilty in 2002 to conspiracy to launder money
and told federal prosecutors he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent $616,000 to Traylor, Chris Webber
and two other Wolverine players dating to when they were still in high school. Traylor received three years' probation.
Due to NCAA violations connected to the case (principally the compromising of the amateur status of Traylor, Webber and Taylor), Michigan withdrew from consideration for the 2003 NCAA tournament, lost scholarships and was placed on probation. The school also vacated the records of every game in which Traylor played from its record book. Traylor also had to surrender his MVP award for the 1997 NIT, as well as his MVP award from the 1998 Big Ten tournament. Murray-Wright High School in Detroit, where Traylor played high school basketball, voluntarily forfeited its entire 1994–95 season (Traylor's senior season).
, Traylor was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks (with the 6th pick), but traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and German
prospect Dirk Nowitzki
.
In the 2005 offseason, Traylor had surgery on his aorta
. He then signed on with the New Jersey Nets
for the 2005–06 NBA season, but—due to his failing a physical examination—the deal was scrapped. Traylor battled obesity
for years.
, in Italy with the Lega Basket Serie A club NSB Napoli, in México for Halcones UV Xalapa
, and in Puerto Rico with the Cangrejeros de Santurce and Bayamon Cowboys. Traylor was selected as 2010 Defensive Player of the Year of Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Traylor's last game was played on April 26, 2011 against San German, where he tallied five minutes of playing time with no points scored and two personal fouls.
. The cause of death was apparently a heart attack
. He was allegedly talking to his wife on the phone at the time. A connection was suddenly lost, at which point his wife alerted team officials to investigate.
Former coach Paul Silas
commented about Traylor's death, saying "It's just a shock and hard to believe".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
High school and college
Traylor was a McDonald's All-American the same year as Kevin GarnettKevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
, Vince Carter
Vince Carter
Vincent Lamar "Vince" Carter is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns. He is a shooting guard who can also play small forward....
and Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce
Paul Anthony Pierce , nicknamed The Truth, is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He earned First Team All-America honors in his junior year at Kansas, and has been a starter every season since being selected by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the...
. He attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Standing 6 in 8 in (2.03 m) and weighing in excess of 300 pounds, he joined a front court for the Wolverines that included Maurice Taylor
Maurice Taylor
Maurice De Shawn Taylor is an American professional basketball power forward.-College career:Taylor attended the University of Michigan. The athletic forward, from Henry Ford High School in Detroit, burst onto the national scene during the 1994 Maui Invitational with fellow freshman Maceo Baston...
and Maceo Baston
Maceo Baston
Maceo Demond Baston is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent.-College career:After graduating from Dallas' H. Grady Spruce High School, Baston played college basketball at the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he was part of an all-star recruiting class that...
. That year he broke a backboard
Backboard shattering
A backboard shattering is an accident or stunt in basketball. It occurs when a player slam dunks the ball hard enough to break the fiberglass of the backboard. The stunt has caused games to be canceled or delayed, serious injuries to occur and expensive costs of clean up and replacement...
while dunking in a game against Ball State. Traylor helped lead the Wolverines to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
title, and was named the tournament's most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. His junior year was his best, as he averaged 16.2 points and 10 rebounds while leading his team to the inaugural Big Ten Tournament
Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season. The tournament has been played each year since 1998. The winner of the tournament is designated the Big Ten Tournament Champion, and receives the conference's automatic...
championship and second round of the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
as a three seed.
Traylor was one of the former Michigan players whose ties to booster Ed Martin
University of Michigan basketball scandal
The University of Michigan basketball scandal or Ed Martin scandal was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball teams and basketball team booster Ed Martin...
roiled the program. During his freshman year, Traylor broke his arm in a car accident while out with teammates and recruiting prospect Mateen Cleaves
Mateen Cleaves
Mateen Ahmad Cleaves is an American former professional basketball player who played in six NBA seasons. He is currently a music talent manager....
(who ended up going to rival Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
). That accident triggered a six-year investigation into the Wolverine program. Martin, who died in 2003 at 69, pleaded guilty in 2002 to conspiracy to launder money
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
and told federal prosecutors he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and lent $616,000 to Traylor, Chris Webber
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
and two other Wolverine players dating to when they were still in high school. Traylor received three years' probation.
Due to NCAA violations connected to the case (principally the compromising of the amateur status of Traylor, Webber and Taylor), Michigan withdrew from consideration for the 2003 NCAA tournament, lost scholarships and was placed on probation. The school also vacated the records of every game in which Traylor played from its record book. Traylor also had to surrender his MVP award for the 1997 NIT, as well as his MVP award from the 1998 Big Ten tournament. Murray-Wright High School in Detroit, where Traylor played high school basketball, voluntarily forfeited its entire 1994–95 season (Traylor's senior season).
NBA career
In the 1998 NBA Draft1998 NBA Draft
The 1998 NBA Draft took place on June 24, 1998 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This draft helped turn around three struggling franchises: the Dallas Mavericks, the Sacramento Kings, and the Toronto Raptors....
, Traylor was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks (with the 6th pick), but traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
prospect Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a German professional basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association...
.
In the 2005 offseason, Traylor had surgery on his aorta
Aorta
The aorta is the largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle of the heart and extending down to the abdomen, where it branches off into two smaller arteries...
. He then signed on with the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
for the 2005–06 NBA season, but—due to his failing a physical examination—the deal was scrapped. Traylor battled obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
for years.
International career
Traylor played in Turkey for Antalya Kepez BelediyesiAntalya Kepez Belediyesi
Kepez Belediyespor is a basketball club based in Kepez - Antalya, Turkey that plays in the Turkish Basketball League. They got promoted from the Second League as the runners-up in the 2006-2007 season. They finished their 2007-2008 TBL season in 11th spot with 12 wins.The club is sponsored by Kepez...
, in Italy with the Lega Basket Serie A club NSB Napoli, in México for Halcones UV Xalapa
Halcones UV Xalapa
Halcones UV Xalapa is a basketball club based in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico that plays in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional . Their home games are played at Gimnasio Universitario de la Unidad Deportiva....
, and in Puerto Rico with the Cangrejeros de Santurce and Bayamon Cowboys. Traylor was selected as 2010 Defensive Player of the Year of Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Traylor's last game was played on April 26, 2011 against San German, where he tallied five minutes of playing time with no points scored and two personal fouls.
Death
On Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Traylor was found dead at his apartment in Isla Verde, Puerto RicoIsla Verde, Puerto Rico
Isla Verde is a District of Carolina located east of Santurce next to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge...
. The cause of death was apparently a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He was allegedly talking to his wife on the phone at the time. A connection was suddenly lost, at which point his wife alerted team officials to investigate.
Former coach Paul Silas
Paul Silas
Paul Theron Silas is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. He attended Creighton University, where he set an NCAA record for the most rebounds in three seasons and averaged 20.6 rebounds per game in 1963...
commented about Traylor's death, saying "It's just a shock and hard to believe".