Roy Tarpley was a former NBA star who played for the Dallas Mavericks in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was a talented and versatile big man who could score, rebound, and block shots. He won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1988 and was considered one of the best players in the league at his position.
However, his promising career was cut short by drug and alcohol abuse, which led to multiple suspensions and eventually a permanent ban from the NBA in 1995. He tried to revive his career in Europe and minor leagues, but he never regained his former glory.
On January 9, 2015, Roy Tarpley died at the age of 50. His death shocked and saddened many fans and former teammates who remembered him as a gentle giant and a great teammate. But what was the cause of his death? And how did his addiction affect his health and life?
Contents
Liver Failure: The Final Blow
According to a Tarrant County medical examiner’s report, Tarpley died at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, near Dallas. No cause of death was given in the online report. However, members of the Mavericks’ traveling party said they were told that liver failure was to blame.
Liver failure is a condition in which the liver stops functioning properly and cannot perform its vital functions, such as filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile, and regulating metabolism. Liver failure can be caused by various factors, such as viral infections, genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, or cancer. However, one of the most common causes of liver failure is chronic alcohol abuse.
Alcohol can damage the liver cells and cause inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a condition in which the healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which impairs the blood flow and function of the liver. Cirrhosis can lead to complications such as bleeding, infections, ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen), hepatic encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), and liver cancer.
The symptoms of liver failure may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or swelling, bleeding or bruising easily, confusion, coma, and death. The treatment for liver failure depends on the cause and severity of the condition. In some cases, medication or surgery may help to slow down or reverse the damage. In other cases, a liver transplant may be the only option to save the patient’s life.
However, not everyone is eligible for a liver transplant. There are strict criteria for selecting candidates for this procedure, such as age, medical history, psychological status, and compliance with treatment. One of the criteria is that the patient must be abstinent from alcohol for at least six months before being considered for a transplant. This is because alcohol can damage the new liver and reduce the chances of survival after the transplant.
It is not clear whether Tarpley was on the waiting list for a liver transplant or not. However, it is likely that his history of alcohol abuse made it difficult for him to qualify for one. Moreover, even if he had received a transplant, he would have faced many challenges to maintain his sobriety and health after the surgery.
Drug Abuse: The Root Cause
Tarpley’s addiction to drugs and alcohol began when he was in college at Michigan. He admitted that he started using cocaine when he was 19 years old. He said that he was influenced by his peers and by the pressure of being a star athlete. He also said that he used drugs to cope with stress, depression, and loneliness.
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that affects the brain and nervous system. It can produce feelings of euphoria, confidence, energy, and alertness. However, it can also cause negative effects such as anxiety, paranoia, irritability, aggression, insomnia, heart problems, seizures, strokes, and addiction.
Tarpley’s drug use continued when he entered the NBA in 1986. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the seventh pick in the first round. He quickly became a key player for the team, averaging 12.6 points and 10 rebounds per game in his rookie season. He helped the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals in 1988. That same year, he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 13.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game off the bench.
However, his success on the court was overshadowed by his troubles off it. In January 1989, he was arrested for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest. In March 1989, he was suspended by the NBA for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He was reinstated in December 1989, but he was suspended again in November 1990 for refusing to take a drug test. He was reinstated again in June 1991, but he was suspended for the third time in October 1991 for using alcohol, which was prohibited by his aftercare program.
In December 1991, Tarpley left the NBA and joined the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), where he played for the Wichita Falls Texans. He also played for the Miami Tropics of the United States Basketball League (USBL) in 1992. He then moved to Europe, where he played for Aris of Greece in 1992-93 and Olympiacos of Greece in 1993-94. He won the FIBA Saporta Cup with Aris in 1993 and the Greek League championship with Olympiacos in 1994.
In 1994, Tarpley applied for reinstatement to the NBA. He was granted conditional reinstatement by Commissioner David Stern, who said that Tarpley had shown “remarkable progress” in his recovery. Tarpley returned to the Mavericks for the 1994-95 season. He played well, averaging 12.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in 55 games3. However, his comeback was short-lived. In December 1995, he was suspended indefinitely by the NBA for using alcohol again3. This time, the suspension was permanent, as Tarpley had violated his lifetime ban agreement.
Tarpley sued the NBA and the Mavericks, claiming that they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by discriminating against him because of his addiction. He argued that his addiction was a disability that should be accommodated by the league and the team. However, his lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge in 1999, who ruled that Tarpley’s addiction was not a disability under the law and that he had breached his contract by violating the substance abuse policy.
After his final ban from the NBA, Tarpley continued to play basketball overseas and in minor leagues. He played for Iraklis of Greece in 1996, Apollon Limassol of Cyprus in 1998-99, Esperos Kallitheas of Greece in 1999, Ural Great of Russia in 1999-2000, Beijing Olympians of China in 2000-01, Sioux Falls Skyforce of the CBA in 2003-04, Dodge City Legend of the USBL in 2005, and Michigan Mayhem of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 2005-06.
However, he never regained his former level of performance or popularity. He also faced several legal and personal problems, such as arrests for assault, theft, and drug possession. He struggled with his addiction and health issues until his death in 2015.
Remembering Roy Tarpley: A Tragic Tale of Wasted Potential
Roy Tarpley’s death was mourned by many people who knew him or admired him as a basketball player. His former teammates and coaches praised him for his talent, work ethic, and personality. They said that he was a gentle giant who had a good heart and a great sense of humor. They also said that he was a loyal friend who cared about others.
However, they also expressed their sadness and frustration over his wasted potential and his inability to overcome his addiction. They said that he could have been one of the best players in NBA history if he had stayed clean and healthy. They said that he had a rare combination of size, skill, athleticism, and intelligence that made him a dominant force on both ends of the floor. They said that he was a joy to watch and play with.
They also said that they tried to help him and support him throughout his career and after his retirement. They said that they offered him advice, guidance, intervention, treatment, and friendship. They said that they hoped that he would find peace and happiness in his life.
However, they also said that they realized that ultimately it was up to him to make the right choices and change his behavior. They said that they understood that addiction is a complex and chronic disease that affects the brain and body. They said that they respected his struggle and his efforts to recover.
They said that they wished that he had lived longer and fulfilled his potential. They said that they missed him and loved him.
Roy Tarpley’s story is a tragic tale of wasted potential. He had everything it takes to be a great basketball player and a successful person. He had talent, opportunity, fame, fortune, and love. However, he also had a fatal flaw: addiction.
Addiction robbed him of his career,
