12 NBA Players who died during their Playing Career 

#8 Robert Traylor

Robert Traylor

Tractor Traylor, as he was known, suited up for a few NBA teams including the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers Cavaliers and New Orleans/Charlotte Hornets. But he battled weight issues all through his career.

Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1998 lottery, Traylor emerged as the sixth overall pick. The Mavs, though, would immediately trade him to Milwaukee for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki, and it’s certainly not a move they’ll ever regret.

The Michigan native last played in the NBA with the Cavs, leaving in 2005 to play in Spain and various other countries as well like Mexico, Italy, Turkey and finally Puerto Rico.

He bounced around a few other teams before being found dead in his apartment in Puerto Rico on May 11, 2011. He had been on a phone call with his wife when he suffered a heart attack, and she alerted the authorities when the call suddenly dropped. Unfortunately, they would not get there in time to be of any help.

Traylor was 34 at the time of his death.