Big East All-Time NBA, Doug Ferguson, Uncategorized
TOP 25 BIG EAST NBA PLAYERS: #23 KELLY TRIPUCKA
December 2, 2009 by nbesports · Leave a Comment
In the next two months NBE’s The Association will celebrate the previous 30 years of the Big East conference by counting down the 25 greatest NBA players from the league since its inception. Note that the list is made up of players who played for the 16 CURRENT schools of the Big East, not necessarily IN the Big East. We hope this trip down memory lane is fun and historically informative to all who read. ENJOY!!!!!!!
Getty Images Photo by Jim Cummins
#23
Name: Kelly Tripucka
College: Notre Dame
NBA Teams: Detroit Pistons (1981-86)
Utah Jazz (1986-88)
Charlotte Hornets (1988-91)
Kelly Tripucka was a basketball golden boy growing up in New Jersey and became a high school legend. He continued his solid gold tradition by donning the golden shorts at Notre Dame. He started all four years for the Irish, all of which ended in NCAA tournament bids. South Bend was where Tripucka became notorious for long socks and mid-range jumpers but Detroit is where he brought it to the big time.
The Pistons took Tripucka with the 12th overall pick in 1981. It was the tail end of a pair of 1st round picks, the first of which was used to take Isiah Thomas. Starting then, Detroit would be a force to be reckoned with in the East until the Jordan era began. Tripucka averaged 20+ ppg in 4 of his 5 years in the Motor City, highlighted by his 26 a game average in his sophomore campaign. In his 3rd season, he exploded in a legendary five-game playoff series against the New York Knicks, a series which the Pistons would lose. He averaged nearly 28 points per game in that series but was out-dueled by Bernard King when it was all said and done.
Unfortunately for Tripucka, he wouldn’t be around for the Pistons glory years as he was traded after the 85-86 season to the Utah Jazz for fellow Fighting Irish hoopster and future Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley. His years in Salt Lake City may have cost him his own trip to Dr. Naismith’s shrine. He was never the same after his years in Utah where he famously butted heads with coach Frank Layden.
AP Photo
After two rough seasons for the Jazz, Tripucka became the first face of the Charlotte Hornets as he went there to finish out his career, leading the team in scoring its first 2 years. Tripucka retired in 1991 from the Hornets with a respectable career to look back on and as one of the most revered scorers of the 80’s. He is now a scout for the New York Knicks, which is something he might rather leave off of his resume these days.
.
.
Career Highlights- 12,142 points (17.2 ppg) over 11 year career
New Jersey High School Player of the Century (2000)
2nd Team All-American (1979-1981)
National Polish Sports Hall of Fame (2000)
50 Greatest Pistons of All-Time (2008)
Top 25 Voters
Doug Ferguson- Lead Writer NBE The Association and Midwest Editor NBE Basketball Report
Paul Hayes- Fantasy Analyst NBE The Association
Sean King- Contributer NBE The Association
Michael LaFreniere- Scout/Analyst NBE The Association
Ray Mernagh- Senior Columnist NBE Basketball Report and College Basketball Editor for the Pittsburgh Sports Report
Zach Smart- Contributor, NBE Basketball Report
Newt Younger- Historian/Consultant, NBE The Association
