Roy Tarpley

Roy Tarpley

Roy Tarpley in 1985
Personal information
Born	(1964-11-28)November 28, 1964 New York City, New York,U.S.
Died	January 9, 2015(2015-01-09)(aged 50) Arlington, Texas,U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school	Cooley(Detroit, Michigan)
College	Michigan(1982–1986)
NBA draft	1986:1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by theDallas Mavericks
Playing career	1986–2006
Position	Power forward/center
Number	42
Career history
1986–1991	Dallas Mavericks
1991–1992	Wichita Falls Texans
1992	Miami Tropics
1992–1993	Aris
1993–1994	Olympiacos
1994–1995	Dallas Mavericks
1996	Iraklis
1998–1999	Apollon Limassol
1999	Esperos Kallitheas
1999–2000	Ural Great
2000–2001	Beijing Olympians
2003–2004	Sioux Falls Skyforce
2005	Dodge City Legend
2005–2006	Michigan Mayhem
Career highlights and awards
NBA Sixth Man of the Year(1988) NBA All-Rookie First Team(1987) FIBA Saporta Cupchampion (1993) FIBA Saporta Cup Top Scorer(1993) FIBA Saporta Cup Finals Top Scorer(1993) EuroLeague rebounding leader(1994) Greek League Hall of Fame(2022) Greek Leaguechampion (1994) Greek League rebounding leader(1993) Greek Cupwinner (1994) CBA All-Star(2004) USBLPlayer of the Year (1992) Second-teamAll-American–USBWA(1985) 2× Third-team All-American –AP(1985,1986) Third-team All-American –UPI(1985) Third-team All-American –NABC(1986) Big Ten Player of the Year(1985)
Career NBA statistics
Points	3,533 (12.6 ppg)
Rebounds	2,803 (10.0 rpg)
Statsat NBA.com
Statsat Basketball-Reference.com

Roy James Tarpley Jr.(November 28, 1964 – January 9, 2015) was an American professionalbasketballplayer. He played thepower forwardandcenterpositions in theNational Basketball Association(NBA), earning anNBA Sixth Man of the Year Awardin1988.In 1995, Tarpley was permanently banned by the NBA due to his drug and alcohol abuse. He played in Europe forOlympiacos,Aris,and Iraklis.

College career

Tarpley starred at theUniversity of Michigan,and was named a 3rd-Team All-American by the AP in 1985 and 1986. In the1984–85 seasonTarpley led the Wolverines to theBig Tenchampionship, averaging 19.0pointsand 10.4 rebounds per game throughout the season, himself earning theBig Ten Player of the Yearaward.On February 7, 1985, he posted a career-high in scoring againstPurduewith 31 points.In hissenior seasonTarpley set the school record for most blocked shots in a game againstFlorida Southern.He led his school in blocked shots in each of his college years, and he also led the school in scoring and rebounding in all but his freshman season.As of March 2014, he was the Wolverines' all-time leader in blocked shots with 251.Tarpley finished his college career posting averages of 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.

Professional career

Dallas Mavericks (1986–1991)

In1986,Tarpley was selected by theDallas Mavericks,in the first round, with the seventh pick of theNBA draft.Tarpley made theNBA All-Rookie Teamin his first season. The following year, he won theNBA Sixth Man of the Year Award,when he averaged 13.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.During the1988 NBA Playoffs,Tarpley and the Mavericks nearly made it to the NBA Finals, losing in the Western Conference Finals to theLos Angeles Lakers.In the seven-game series, Tarpley averaged 15.9 points, 13 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks.The following season, on November 9, 1988, Tarpley scored a career high 35 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a 111–103 loss to thePhoenix Suns.

Six games into the1989–90 season,he was arrested fordriving while intoxicatedandresisting arrest,and suspended by theNBA.In March1991,he drew another suspension, after being arrested forDWIagain. A few months later, after a third violation, he was banned from the league for violating the NBA's drug-use policies.

Return to Dallas (1994–1995)

Tarpley returned to the Mavericks briefly in1994,but was then permanently banned from the NBA in December 1995, for using alcohol and violating the terms of a court-imposed personal aftercare program. He finished withNBAcareer averages of 12.6 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.

Tarpley sued the Dallas Mavericks and the NBA, claiming that their refusal to reinstate him violated theAmericans with Disabilities Actbecause his addiction was a disability. The suit was settled out of court in January 2009.

Europe

Tarpley also played forAris,Olympiacos,Iraklis,Apollon LimassolandEsperos KallitheasinGreece's top-tier levelprofessional basketball league, theGreek Basket League.In the1992–93 FIBA European Cup season,he won theEuropean-wide second-tier levelFIBA European Cup,withSato Aris,against theTurkish Super LeagueclubEfes Pilsen.Thetournament's finaltook place inTurin.

Tarpley reached theEuropean-wide top-tier levelEuroLeague'sFinal,the following year, by playing in the1994 EuroLeague Final Four.During the final four, he played withOlympiacos,against7up Joventut,inTel Aviv.That same year, he led the EuroLeague competition in rebounds, with an average of 12.8 per game.WithOlympiacos,Tarpley also won theGreek Leagueand theGreek Cup.

Michigan Mayhem (2005–2006)

Tarpley played with theMichigan Mayhemof theContinental Basketball Association(CBA) during part of the 2005–2006 season before suffering a season-ending hand injury. He was selected to the CBA All-Star Game, but missed the game because of his injury.

Death

Tarpley died on January 9, 2015, aged 50. No official cause of death was released, but reports indicated that it was due to liver failure.

External links

• NBA.com historical playerfile
• College & NBA stats@ basketballreference.com
• FIBA Europe Profile
• Greek Basket League Profile(in Greek)