Former Mavericks Player Roy Tarpley Dies at Age 50

Former Dallas Mavericks center Roy Tarpley died on Friday at the age of 50, per Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.

On behalf of himself and the team, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban offered condolences to Tarpley's family:

"

Our condolences go out to the family of Roy Tarpley. RIP Roy. Mavs fans everywhere will remember you fondly

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 10, 2015"

Tarpley played 280 games in six seasons with Dallas, averaging 12.6 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. His best individual season came in 1987-88, when he averaged 13.5 points and 11.8 rebounds a night and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.

Dallas reached the Western Conference Finals that year, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. It was the furthest the franchise went in the postseason until Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash arrived in the 2000s.

Tarpley lost three seasons to suspension for using cocaine and was eventually banned for life in December 1995 for violating a court-imposed program by using alcohol, per NBA.com. Keith Langlois of Pistons.com thinks Tarpley could've been remembered as one of the greats had he been able to stay on the court:

Tarpley sued the league for what he felt was a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding his punishment and eventually settled in 2009.