Former NBA player Traylor found dead

ISLA VERDE, Puerto Rico, May 11 (UPI) -- Former NBA basketball player Robert "Tractor" Traylor was found dead Wednesday in his apartment in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, authorities said.

An attorney for a local basketball team Traylor was affiliated with said the 6-foot-8 center was talking to his wife, who is in the United States, Tuesday night when communication was cut off, the newspaper El Nuevo Dia reported.

She and team members were unable to get back in touch with him and his body was found by the building's maintenance staff early Wednesday, the newspaper said.

The newspaper said Traylor apparently died of a massive heart attack. He had had a heart operation in 2005.

There were no signs of violence, or indication he had been wounded or suffered any injury, the newspaper said.

Traylor, 34, played seven seasons in the NBA and starred at the University of Michigan prior to that.

Steve Fishman, Traylor's attorney, told The Detroit News Traylor was "a gentle giant."

"And he would do anything to help younger players," Fishman said. "If you knew his background and the challenges he faced, you couldn't help but be impressed with what he accomplished."