Robert Tractor Traylor: The 5 Greatest Moments of His Basketball Career

The NBA has lost one of its greatest characters today with word coming in that Robert "Tractor" Traylor was found dead at his apartment in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico.

Traylor had been living in Puerto Rico on account of playing with Vaqueros de Bayamon in the BSN league this season.

"Tractor" Traylor earned his nickname due to his outlandish size, weighing in at over 300 pounds despite being a 6'9" power forward. He was drafted with the number six pick by the Dallas Mavericks before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks on draft day. He would spend time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets before leaving the NBA at only 27.

Traylor also spent time with the Santurce Crabbers in Puerto Rico, Antalya Kepez Belediyes of Turkey and NSB Napoli before settling in with the Puerto Rican team he was playing with this year.

Robert was only 34 years old, and his cause of death is believed to be that of a heart attack. He will be dearly missed by anyone who remembers the exploits of Traylor rocking rims and being an overall terrific basketball personality on the court.

Honorable Mention: Traylor Tears Down the Rim...like a Boss.

Robert Traylor was a big dude even before he stepped onto an NBA court. It was at the college level that "Tractor" Traylor began throwing that 6'9", 300 pound frame around with the Michigan Wolverines. It shouldn't have come as a surprise when Traylor actually tore the rim down and broke the backboard ala Shaquille O'Neal or Darryl Dawkins.

However, instead of walking away from the carnage and the dangerous falling glass, he walked through it as it was still falling, appearing as a Western hero walking into the sunset.

5. Tractor Traylor Goes for Gold

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

DENVER - DECEMBER 16: Earl Boykins #11 of the Denver Nuggets weaves his way around Robert Traylor #34 of the New Orleans Hornets in the second half December 16, 2003 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets won 116-94. NOTE TO USER: User expr

As a 17-year-old high school senior, Traylor was not only on his way to All-American status and NCAA stardom, but he also became a big deal on the international level.

Taking his talents to Santa Rosa, Argentina for the Under-18 FIBA Championships of 1994, Traylor was able to the lead the United States to their second consecutive title with a win over the host country to take home the gold medal.

4. Robert Traylor: The All-American

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

28 Dec 1995: Center Maurice Traylor of the Michigan Wolverines moves the ball during a game against the UNLV Runnin'' Rebels. UNLV won the game, 66-64. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport

To be a McDonalds All-American, you must have an illustrious career as a high schooler.

Robert Traylor was one of those players. There was no one at the high school level that could contain a player of his size and he earned a trip to the All-American squad because of it. Robert joined the likes of Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce on that year's team.

Traylor would be highly coveted by a number of universities before choosing the University of Michigan as his destination.

3. The Big Man Gets His First MVP

Julian H. Gonzalez/Getty Images

21 Dec 1996: Center Robert Traylor (standing) of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates his victory with teammate Ryan DeKuiper during a game against the Arizona Wildcats at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Michigan won 73-71. Mandatory

It was in 1997 during Robert Traylor's sophomore season that he won his first NCAA accolade.

His Wolverines fell a few wins short of making it to the NCAA tournament, but were able to earn a high seeding in the NIT tournament after a productive season. They got wins against Miami, Oklahoma State and Notre Dame to advance to the semifinals, where they would go on to blow out Arkansas. They would make it to the championship game, where they would take on the Florida State Seminoles.

Michigan would take that game 82-73 to take home the NIT championship. It would be Robert Traylor taking home the MVP award, which he would unfortunately later forfeit.

Traylor averaged 13 points and eight rebounds during his sophomore year.

2. Traylor Takes Home His Second MVP

Julian H. Gonzalez/Getty Images

21 Dec 1996: Center Robert Traylor of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during a game against the Arizona Wildcats at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Michigan won the game in overtime, 73-71. Mandatory Credit: Julian Gonzalez /Allsport

Traylor didn't earn too many accolades in the NBA, but he did earn a few at the high school and college level.

In his final season at the University of Michigan, Traylor averaged 16 points per game on 58 percent to go along with 10 rebounds and three assists per game. He was able to lead that Wolverine team to the inagural Big Ten championship and to the second round of the NCAA tournament as a third seed.

Unfortunately, NCAA violations forced Traylor to give up the award.

1. Tractor Traylor Makes It into the NBA as a Lottery Pick

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

23 Feb 1999: Robert Traylor #54 of the Milwaukee Bucks in action during the game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Bucks defeated the Bulls 96-88. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport

After three productive seasons with the Michigan Wolverines, Traylor decided to forgo his senior season and instead declare for the NBA draft.

A player of his size that had a mid-range game to go along with a post game was enough to convince a few NBA teams that he was worthy enough to be a lottery pick. The Dallas Mavericks decided to take him with the sixth pick in the 1998 draft. He would get traded a few hours later to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki.

Traylor only played 49 games in his first season and would only spend two years with Milwaukee before being traded to Cleveland.