Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor left the Michigan basketball program a star. He never equaled that status in the NBA.

But Traylor, who died in Puerto Rico at age 34 on Wednesday, left an impression with those in the NBA.

“He had great rebounding hands,” said Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, who was his first NBA coach in Milwaukee. “Had that body that so many say the presence in the paint is size and athleticism. It is a guy who knows how to use his body and has great hands.

“There were nights where he was just tremendous. Rebounding the ball was his forte. Rebounders don’t get the glory, but everyone wants one of them. He had the knack of getting the offensive rebound.”

Traylor played seven seasons in the NBA, scoring 2,085 points and grabbing 1,640 rebounds. He played in 438 games and started 73 for the Milwaukee Bucks (1998-2000), Cleveland Cavaliers (2000-01 and 2004-05) and the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets (2001-04).

His most productive seasons in the NBA were in Cleveland. He averaged 5.7 points and 4.3 rebounds in 2000-01 and 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in his final NBA season in 2004-05.

After heart surgery in the 2005 off-season, he tried to return to the NBA but couldn’t pass a physical — sending him overseas instead.

“The game did give him a lot of fun games,” Karl said. “And a lot of good games.”

His NBA career, though, will often be known because of who he ended up being traded for during the 1998 NBA Draft. Picked sixth by the Dallas Mavericks, the Mavs traded him to Milwaukee for Pat Garrity and a highly touted German prospect named Dirk Nowitzki.

“Robert was a fierce competitor on the court who helped the Bucks reach the playoffs in each of his two seasons in Milwaukee,” the Bucks said in a statement on Facebook. “Off the court he was a gentle giant, displaying his smile and care, especially toward young people through his involvement in school visits and his work with the Special Olympics clinic.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends.”

Traylor started in Milwaukee but would be part of four trades during his career, although none had the cachet of the draft night deal.

“There’s a stress to the symbolism to what happens in the draft,” Karl said. “That is way overinflated.”

Karl wasn’t there when the trade was made, but he knows the pressures of being part of a draft-day swap that will always be analyzed. The veteran coach, though, enjoyed having Traylor around.

“He was a damned good player,” Karl said. “And a fun-loving guy to be around.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein