Kelly Tripucka

by Joe Brown
Love of Sports Correspondent

Kelly Tripucka wasn’t much different than many former and current NBA Players.

Tough and gritty, he could get you 20 points a night despite being somewhat of a liability on defense. At 6’6 he was one of the better players in Notre Dame History and played on the legendary teams in the 1970’s for Digger Phelps.

Drafted 12th overall in the first round of the 1981 draft ten spots behind 2nd pick Isiah Thomas, both to the Detroit Pistons. These two players laid the foundation of what would turn out to be a major turning point in the Pistons franchise.

Simply put, Kelly Tripucka was kind of awkward.  He was a tall white guy that had a unique look.  His hair was the forerunner to Seinfeld’s mop He rocked the high socks, a ‘stache that would make Ron Jeremy proud, the way too tight short shorts and added the “what were we thinking?” trend of the long spandex under the short shorts.

To many of us, Kelly Tripucka exemplifies the term old school.

I would be remised if I didn’t give him props on his skills. The man could shoot. His second year with Detroit he averaged 26.5 points and torched the Chicago Bulls one night for 56 points in 1983. If it wasn’t for a meaningless last season with the Charlotte Hornets he would have averaged around 20 ppg for his 10 year career.

Here is some meaningless information next time you’re on a long road trip with “sports trivia guy.”

He was traded from Detroit to Utah in 1986 for, ironically, fighting Irish alum, Adrian Dantley.

Kelly had some issues with newcomer Karl Malone. The Mailman eventually won that battle as Tripucka was left unprotected in the expansion draft for the Charlotte Hornets.

He is a member of the Polish-American sports hall of fame. He holds the Charlotte Hornets free throw percentage record and also scored the first points in Hornets history. 

His father is legendary Notre Dame Quarterback, Frank Tripucka. Frank was the backup quarterback behind Heisman trophy winner Johnny Lujack in ’46 and ’47. He became a starter the following season and was named all-American and drafted in the first round of the 1949 NFL draft by the Eagles.

So here’s some old school love going out to and old school cat, Kelly Tripucka.