USA/PUR - Robert 'Tractor' Traylor found dead

SAN JUAN (BSN) - Bayamon Cowboys star and former NBA forward Robert "Tractor" Traylor was found dead of an apparent heart attackat his home in Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

He was 34.

Traylor, who shot to fame in American college basketball with the Michigan Wolverines in the nineties, was discovered on the bedroom floor of his oceanfront apartment in Isla Verde.

His teammates, who had their league game postponed on Wednesday evening, have expressed shock over his death.

"It's a very difficult time for us," said Bayamon's Puerto Rico international Christian Dalmau.

At 6ft 8in, 300 pounds, Traylor earned his nickname because of his huge, bulky frame.

Dallas selected him sixth in the 1998 NBA Draft but traded his rights to Milwaukee in the deal that sent Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavericks.

He played a couple of seasons with Milwaukee and also had spells with Cleveland, Charlotte and New Orleans.

"The entire Milwaukee Bucks organization is saddened by the news of Robert Traylor's death," Milwaukee said in a statement.

"Robert was a fierce competitor on the court who helped the Bucks reach the playoffs in each of his two seasons in Milwaukee.

"Off the court he was a gentle giant, displaying his smile and care, especially toward young people through his involvement in school visits and his work with the Special Olympics clinic."

He was a fan favorite and popular teammates in Puerto Rico, according to Bayamon manager Jose Carlos Perez.

"He was a leader of the team," Carlos Perez said.

"He was very, very friendly. He got along very well with everyone. The fans loved him, idolized him."

Six years ago, the Cowboys said that Traylor had surgery on his aorta.

He also had legal troubles.

Traylor was sentenced to jail two years ago after violating conditions of supervised release related to an income-tax case in which he acknowledged preparing a false tax return that hid assets of a convicted drug dealer.

A judge had delayed the sentence so Traylor could play for Nuova AMG Sebastiani in Napoli, Italy.

FIBA