'Tractor' Traylor, 34, dies of heart attack in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Robert Traylor, the former NBA and University of Michigan big man nicknamed "Tractor" because of his hulking frame, has died. He was 34.

Described as a "gentle giant" with a generous smile, Traylor played 7 years in the NBA. He is perhaps most remembered, however, for his career at Michigan, where he was a standout for three seasons but became embroiled in a major scandal involving a booster.

Police in San Juan said Traylor was found dead yesterday on the bedroom floor of his oceanfront apartment. Police and Traylor's team, the Bayamon Cowboys, said he had been missing for a few days and apparently died from a heart attack.

"He was a leader of the team," said Jose Carlos Perez, the Cowboys' manager. "He was very, very friendly. He got along very well with everyone. The fans loved him, idolized him."

Perez told the Associated Press that Traylor had been talking by phone to his wife in Chicago when the connection was suddenly cut off. She called team officials yesterday and they checked on him, Perez said. The 6-8, 300-pound Traylor was injured and had not been playing, the team said.

Traylor was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the sixth pick in 1998, but they traded his rights to Milwaukee in a major deal that sent Dirk Nowitzki to Dallas. Traylor played for the Bucks in the first two seasons of an NBA career that included stops in Cleveland, Charlotte and New Orleans.

Traylor got his "Tractor" nickname in high school.

Traylor had surgery on his aorta in 2005, the Bayamon Cowboys said. Traylor's aorta troubles were discovered during an NBA physical, causing teams to shy away from him.

Perez said Traylor's survivors include his wife and two sons.