By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Roy Tarpley passed away at his 50 years of age. The former NBA player with the Mavericks who had a significant career in Greek basketball with Olympiacos, Aris, Iraklis and Esperos died in a Texas hospital due to liver failure.
According to a medical examiner’s report, Tarpley’s death happened at Texas Arlington Health Memorial Hospital. It is a sad ending to one of the most gifted talents ever to play for the game of basketball. Tarpley had a rare combination of strength and speed that made him one of the best athletes of his era.
He was the seventh pick in the 1986 draft by the Mavericks out of Michigan. In his second season, he was the NBA’s sixth man of the year before drugs and controversy shrouded the rest of his six seasons in the league. He travelled overseas then and played mostly during his prime years in Greece. He won the Cup Winners’ Cup trophy with Aris and the Greek double with Olympiacos.
This Mavs owner Mark Cuban’s tweet when he was informed about Roy’s death.
You can watch some of Roy Tarpley’s achievements in this video created by Olympiacos BC.