<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> HOUSTON -- Former Dallas Mavericks forward Roy Tarpley, who was permanently banned from the NBA in 1995 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, has applied for reinstatement to the league. Tarpley, 37, told Houston television station KRIV that he hopes to revive his NBA career soon. Tarpley was the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 1987-88. "I feel like I have unfinished business there," Tarpley said. "If I can get another opportunity to play in the league, I am going to hold on for dear life. I miss it so much and I took it for granted before and I will never do that again." An NBA spokesman declined to comment, citing the terms of the league's drug policy. The NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 1987-88, Tarpley is living in Houston and has been training with former Cleveland Cavaliers coach John Lucas. After being banned from the NBA in 1995, Tarpley spent five years playing for professional teams throughout Europe. He was out of basketball this season. Lucas said seven NBA teams have inquired about Tarpley. "He still has the rebounding and shooting ability," Lucas said. "So with the way the league is structured as far as the salary cap restrictions, someone signing Roy for a million dollars will be a steal of a deal." The 7-foot Tarpley was the seventh pick in the 1986 NBA draft out of Michigan. He played for the Mavericks from 1986 until he was thrown out of the NBA in October 1991 for using cocaine, a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. For two years he played professional basketball in Greece until he was reinstated by the NBA in 1994 and signed a six-year, $20 million contract with the Mavericks. But Tarpley's NBA return was short-lived. He was permanently banned from the league in December 1995 for using alcohol and violating the terms of a court-imposed personal after-care program. "When all of that happened back in '95 it was a big shock to me," Tarpley said. "I just kind of disappeared, but I'm back now. Sometimes you have to go away to be able to come back." </div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kid Canada:</div><div class="quote_post">He is playing well in the cba. Almost getting 19 boards a game.</div> What? last time i heard about him he was getting 18 ppg ang 10 rpg in the CBA.
Roy Tarpley? Man, screw Roy Tarpley. This a-hole deserves to be exactly where he is...out of the NBA.
Roy Tarpley had so much potential back in the days. He was supposed to be the power player for the trio of Jason Kidd, Jimmy Jackson, and Jamal Mashburn. Of course, his drug addiction led to him not being very effective. That left the Dallas Mavericks with a starting center who weighed 200 pounds.
I remember when Tarpley broke in with the Mavs back in the Brad Davis, Rolando Blackmon, Derek Harper days. He was great in his rookie season, then he got hooked on coke and f'd up the whole thing. After I heard that he kicked his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach I pretty much quit caring about what happened to him, he doesn't deserve to play in the NBA and make that kind of money.
When I first read the thread title, "Roy Tarpley to Return?" the first location that popped into my head was a return to another drug rehab. I don't think Tarpley is capable of coming back to the NBA and competing. If anything, he should be the poster boy for players who get hooked on drugs or alcohol and show them how it's screwed up his life and NBA career. I'm sure a Shawn Kemp or Vin Baker would have benefited from seeing how miserable Tarpley's life has been since he was banned. I can't imagine anytime taking a chance on him.
