Ex-Michigan star Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor found dead at 34!

Tragic news in the sports arena as well known College and NBA Player Tractor Traylor recently passed!

Robert “Tractor” Traylor, the former Michigan star whose brief NBA career fizzled after seven unspectacular seasons, was found dead in his oceanfront apartment in Puerto Rico, his Puerto Rican professional team confirmed Wednesday. The 34-year-old Traylor died of an apparent heart attack. He battled lingering weight problems throughout his NBA career and underwent surgery in fall 2005 to repair an enlarged aorta discovered when he failed an offseason physical with the New Jersey Nets. While Traylor never averaged more than 5.7 points per game in the NBA and made just 73 starts in seven seasons in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Charlotte and New Orleans, it’s his college career at Michigan that will be his legacy. The Detroit native averaged 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in three seasons with the Wolverines, but he was best known for his gregarious personality, massive girth and colorful nickname. Traylor lived up to his “Tractor Traylor” moniker at Michigan, using his 300-pound frame to impose his will on defenders on the low block yet showing nimbleness and athleticism unexpected from a player of his size. His best season came as a junior when he was named MVP of the Big Ten’s inaugural conference tournament in 1998, playing well enough to lead Michigan to the second round of the NCAA tournament and get taken sixth by Dallas in the NBA draft.

Our prayers go out to the Traylor family as they go through this moment of saddened time.

via Ex-Michigan star Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor found dead at 34 – The Dagger – NCAAB Blog – Yahoo! Sports.