Robert Traylor

Robert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor (February 1, 1977 – May 11, 2011) was an American professional basketball player. He got his nickname because of his hulking frame. Traylor was the sixth pick in the 1998 NBA draft and played seven seasons in the league (from 1998–1999 through 2004–2005). He averaged 4.8 points per game, mainly as a reserve center and power forward.

High school and college Traylor was a McDonald's All-American the same year as Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce. He attended the University of Michigan. Standing and weighing in excess of , he joined a frontcourt for the Wolverines that included Maurice Taylor and Maceo Baston in 1995. That year, Traylor 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 10.1 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 four 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 eventually went to rival Michigan State, won the 2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and was named the Most Outstanding Player. That accident triggered a six-year investigation into the Wolverine program. Martin pleaded guilty in 2002 to conspiracy to launder money and told federal prosecutors he took gambling money, combined it with other funds and gave Traylor, Chris Webber and two other Wolverine players a $616,000 loan. Traylor received three years' probation for tax fraud.

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 draft, Traylor was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round (with the sixth pick), then traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and German prospect Dirk Nowitzki. Landon Buford of Sports Illustrated ranked this trade as one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, while Dave Zirin of The Nation ranked it the most lopsided trade in NBA history. Nowitzki "would go on to have a distinguished 21-year career where he was an All-Star 14 times, a member of the All-NBA team 12 times, a league and Finals MVP, and an NBA champion in 2011", (In addition, Garrity was traded to Phoenix by the Mavericks for future Hall of Famer Steve Nash).

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 weight problems throughout his career.

International career Traylor played in Turkey for Antalya Kepez Belediyesi, in Italy with the Lega Basket Serie A club NSB Napoli, in Mexico for Halcones UV Xalapa, and in Puerto Rico with the Cangrejeros de Santurce and Vaqueros de Bayamón. Traylor was selected as 2010 Defensive Player of the Year of Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Traylor's last game was played on April 26, 2011.

Career statistics

College

NBA Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life and death In 2007, Traylor pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was sentenced to three years' probation.

On May 11, 2011, Traylor had been talking to his wife Raye on the phone; the connection was suddenly lost, so she alerted team officials to investigate. Traylor was found dead at his apartment in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, of an apparent massive heart attack. He was survived by Raye and his two sons at the time of his death.

Former coach Paul Silas commented on Traylor's death, saying, "It's just a shock and hard to believe."