Everything about Kelly Tripucka totally explained
Peter Kelly Tripucka (born
February 16,
1959 in
Glen Ridge, New Jersey) was a
National Basketball Association player for the
Detroit Pistons,
Utah Jazz, and
Charlotte Hornets from
1981 to
1991.
High School
Tripucka grew up in
Bloomfield, New Jersey and was a three-year starter from 1974-1977 for the
Bloomfield High School boy's basketball team. Twice named to first team all-state. His jersey number 42 was retired by Bloomfield High School.
In 2000 the
Star-Ledger named Tripucka the "New Jersey Boy's Basketball Player of the Century".
College
Tripucka was a four-year starter at the
University of Notre Dame, leading the Irish in scoring each year and to the
NCAA Tournament each of his four years.
NBA Career
After being drafted in the first round by the Pistons, Tripucka proved to be a prolific scorer, but a somewhat weak defensive player. After the 1985-86 season, the Pistons traded Tripucka to the
Utah Jazz for
Adrian Dantley. Tripucka and Jazz coach
Frank Layden didn't get along, mostly over his lack of involvement in the offense. At the time, Layden was beginning to build the team around the talents of
John Stockton and
Karl Malone. Tripucka's open complaining led to his seeing less and less playing time with the Jazz, and to his eventual release. The
Charlotte Hornets selected him in an expansion draft in 1988 after the Jazz left him unprotected. In his years with the expansion Hornets, he was among the team's leading scorers.
In a game between the Hornets and the Jazz in 1989, not long after Layden resigned as the Jazz coach,
Karl Malone expressed his devotion to Layden by writing "FRANK" on the heels of his sneakers. In a mock gesture, Tripucka responded by writing "DICK" on the back of his shoes (for then-Hornets coach
Dick Harter). The move was seen as a jab at Layden and Malone, who Tripucka felt ran him out of Utah.
Broadcasting
He was a
color commentator for Detroit Pistons television for eight seasons, from 1993 to 2001. After 2001 he left
FSN Detroit and
WKBD before leaving to take a full-time radio job with the
New Jersey Nets following the 2000-2001 season.
From 2003-2005, he served as the color commentator for New Jersey Nets telecasts on the
YES Network.
Honors
In
2000, he was named to the
National Polish-American Hall of Fame.
Tripucka shares the record for most points scored in his first road playoff game, with 40. He is one of five Pistons to have scored 40 or more in a playoff game, along with
Dave Bing,
Isiah Thomas,
Chauncey Billups and
Richard (Rip) Hamilton.
Other
He is currently a scout for the
New York Knicks, where his former teammate
Isiah Thomas is the team president.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Kelly Tripucka'.
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