He possessed a sharp shooting touch, physical defensive prowess, and smooth ball-handling to match his 6-foot, 11-inch frame.
But the athletic big man – who died Friday at age 50 – also carried his share of demons. He was suspended by the NBA three times for drug and alcohol offenses, struggles that undercut his potential for super-stardom.
"If Roy had stayed healthy, he could have been one of the top 50 players ever," Brad Davis, who played with Tarpley, told The Dallas Morning News. "He could do it all – shoot, score, rebound, pass and defend. We're all sorry to hear of his passing."
Tarpley bounced around during his childhood, from New York to Alabama to Detroit, finally settling at Detroit’s Cooley High School before playing collegiality at the University of Michigan. Tarpley starred for the Wolverines, averaging 15.7 points and 9 rebounds per game during his final three seasons.
The NBA was next. Tarpley was drafted seventh overall in the 1986 draft, a collection of lottery prospects now remembered for their drug problems as much as their talent. Len Bias, the No. 2 pick, died days after the draft due to a cocaine overdose. Chris Washburn, selected one pick later, failed his third drug test in 1989 and was banned by the NBA. William Bedford, the No. 6 pick, faced addiction during his career.Tarpley was banned after six NBA seasons.
Those six seasons featured some special moments. Tarpley averaged 12.6 points and 10 rebounds per game during his NBA career.
He achieved his greatest heights in 1987-88, when he won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year Award. That season he was among the NBA’s leaders in rebounds, averaged 13.5 points per game and also provided lock-down defense, helping the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals.
Tarpley’s struggles with cocaine emerged during his rookie season – with celebrity, money and freedom all contributing to the free fall.
“I guess once I got hold of a lot of money, I thought I could party, stop and do the job,” he said in a 1992 interview with the Dallas Morning News. “It didn’t work out that way. I just kept partying. As soon as I got hold of money, my decision making went all out of whack.”
He underwent treatment during his breakout 1987-88 campaign, making the most of his second chance. He even reached out to the NBA’s younger class, speaking to 1988’s rookies about temptations and drugs.
“I told them not to go out and make the same mistakes – just work hard and play ball,” he told reporters at the time. “I wanted to tell them what it’s all about, how deadly it can be if you get caught up in it.”
But the sobriety didn’t last, with suspensions and injuries keeping Tarpley off the court. He was suspended for two DWI arrests and missed most of the 1990-91 season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
After failing a 1991 drug test, Tarpley was banned from the NBA, denied a chance to play in the league for three seasons. In the meantime, he played in other leagues – the United States Basketball League, Greece – before being reinstated with the NBA in 1994 at age 29.
