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Dallas Mavericks: 25 Best Players To Play For The Mavericks

By Phil Watson

Apr 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the arena before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A general view of the arena before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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OAKLAND, CA - 1988: Roy Tarpley #42 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball during the NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California in 1988. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – 1988: Roy Tarpley #42 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball during the NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at the Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum Arena in Oakland, California in 1988. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

player. 79. <strong>How acquired: </strong>7th overall pick from Michigan, 1986 NBA Draft.. PF-C. 1986-91, 1994-95. Roy Tarpley. 7

Roy Tarpley put together a solid career at Michigan, earning All-America honors as a junior and senior, averaging 15.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his final season.

The Dallas Mavericks selected Tarpley with the seventh overall pick in the star-crossed 1986 NBA Draft, a group known as much for its drug woes and underachievers as any stars it produced.

DAL_07_TARPLEY
DAL_07_TARPLEY /

Tarpley was a little of both.

He was a first team All-Rookie selection in 1986-87 and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 1987-88, helping Dallas reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time.

But that was the zenith of what looked to be an outstanding career.

In January 1989, Tarpley was suspended indefinitely by the NBA and entered a drug treatment program, missing the rest of the season.

Late in the 1989-90 season, Tarpley was suspended by the Mavericks for missing practice and early in the 1990-91 season, went on the shelf with a torn ACL.

The NBA issued an indefinite suspension to Tarpley in April 1991 for a violation of the drug policy and before he could ever return, he received a lifetime ban in October 1991 for his third violation of the policy.

Tarpley was reinstated by the NBA in September 1994 and signed a six-year, $25.8 million contract with the Mavericks a week later.

He played in just 55 games in 1994-95, missing time with tendinitis in his knee.

He was suspended by the team in November 1995 for failing his preseason physical, sitting our four days, but before he could get himself in shape to return, the NBA suspended Tarpley for a minimum of two years for a violation of his drug aftercare program.

He was never reinstated.

While on his league-imposed hiatuses, Tarpley played in U.S. minor leagues such as the Continental Basketball Association and the USBL as well as overseas in Greece, Cyprus and China.

When he could play, Tarpley was phenomenal. In parts of six seasons with Dallas, he averaged 12.6 points, 10 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals in 26.7 minutes per game, shooting .483/.176/.744.

Tarpley died at an Arlington, Texas, hospital on Jan. 9, 2015 at the age of 50. No cause of death was released to the public.

Next: The Jet Flew In Dallas

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