Old heads like me remember how popular Kelly was in the Detroit area in the early 80s. For a time, I thought that they named Kelly Tire co. after him, especially since he did TV commercials for them!
Great story telling. I learned so much watching this as well. These early 80s NBA stars were part of my youth. I now know why each is worthy of massive respect
@@Bighjr88 Dominique was 6'8, 6'9. These other guys were 6''5'; 6'6. Bernard King is the tallest out of that group at 6'7 and I should have left him off along with Alex English who was maybe 6'7 or 6'8. Tripuka, Acquire and Dantley were all 6'6 and under
Kelly Tripucka, Tom Chambers and KiKi Vandeweghe might not be Hall of Famers but these 3 were silent killers in the 80s and early 90s, the Pistons didn't always have that defensive team mindset when Kelly Tripucka and Isiah Thomas were Pistons in the early 80s they were a high scoring Duo!
I had to click once I saw the title. Kelly Tripucka is a name I hadn't heard in years. He was fun to watch, and I remember him on the Hornets, but this was the first time hearing he played for the Jazz. That's wild. Well done video btw.
Nice video bro!!! Those were the Piston teams of my youth when I was playing in grade school and high school. Our coach used to make us watch the games as homework. Lol.
He would've likely been a HOFer if his career peak had been longer and with better teams. He's not quite there, but it's not by much and his career is at least worthy of a HOF discussion. Excellent and creative scorer and a better defender and overall athele than you might expect. He might even crack the Top 150-200 players of all-time, though just barely. Kind of reminds me of Gordon Hayward before his own injuries.
I don't know how somebody can say he was Underated He was slow No jumping ability And Was a terrible defender, I Remember Bernard king lightn. This man up like a Christmas tree. I think Bernard Smoke Kelly, for about 50 that night.
As everybody knows, I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American, male, and heterosexual. (all of this shows you where, when, and how I grew up, and what prism I view life through) Let's focus on the 1990-91 Blazers, who blew their best opportunity at an NBA title. Rick Adelman wrote in his book, that during the season, some names they targeted for a trade (for Drazen Petrovic) were Walter Davis (who they got), Kelly Tapioca, Adrian Dantley, and Dell Curry (young, but having a down year, with only 10.6 ppg). Everybody points out how Walter Davis was a BUST in Portland, and cost them Game 1 vs the Lakers, and ultimately, the series. I'm the King of Hindsight 20/20: For those of you anywhere near my age, how do you think Kelly Tapioca could have helped that Blazers team? Maybe, it would have HELPED, that everybody knew he was in his twilight, because the expectation would have been 8-12 minutes per game for him, and just hit some jumpers and free-throws. With Davis and Dantley, there was still some belief that they still had something left in the tank, and would have wanted big minutes.
This was Kelly Tripucka's Detroit career, good scorer playing with Isiah, poor defender. From 1984-1986, he helped Detroit get into the playoffs. In those 3 years, he was OUTPLAYED by the other small forward in the playoffs. 1984-BERNARD KING 1985-LARRY BIRD. 1986-DOMINIQUE WILKINS. Detroit traded him and the small forward position got better defensively with Dennis Rodman and Detroit immediately became a title contender.
I mean, u r talking of Bernard king, an all time great. No one is saying kelly is hof. But Kelly was a ball player. Phew, zeke and Kelly drafted in the same year. Kelly was a legit part of the championships even though he had long been gone. A pistons legend.
Do you guys want me to start listing out the stats in the videos?
Yes
Old heads like me remember how popular Kelly was in the Detroit area in the early 80s. For a time, I thought that they named Kelly Tire co. after him, especially since he did TV commercials for them!
I started watching the NBA in about 1982 so yea I remember Tripuka. He was a solid scorer.
Great story telling. I learned so much watching this as well. These early 80s NBA stars were part of my youth. I now know why each is worthy of massive respect
3:10 OMG! Kiki Vandeweghe and Kelly Tropicana! Guys who had reputations as "great scorers, but NO defense."
Small forwards put up big numbers in the mid-80s: Tripuka, Mark Acquire, Alex English, Bernard King, and Adrian Dantley come to mind.
Dominique Wilkins
@@Bighjr88 Dominique was 6'8, 6'9. These other guys were 6''5'; 6'6. Bernard King is the tallest out of that group at 6'7 and I should have left him off along with Alex English who was maybe 6'7 or 6'8. Tripuka, Acquire and Dantley were all 6'6 and under
You left my comment, almost exactly as I would have written.
@@muskegontribune So you meant a smaller forward not a small forward?
@@Bighjr88 I meant small literally, I should have put small in quotes
Kelly Tripucka, Tom Chambers and KiKi Vandeweghe might not be Hall of Famers but these 3 were silent killers in the 80s and early 90s, the Pistons didn't always have that defensive team mindset when Kelly Tripucka and Isiah Thomas were Pistons in the early 80s they were a high scoring Duo!
I had to click once I saw the title. Kelly Tripucka is a name I hadn't heard in years. He was fun to watch, and I remember him on the Hornets, but this was the first time hearing he played for the Jazz. That's wild. Well done video btw.
Thank you
Good player
Saw him when Notre Dame played Loyola, Illinois as my brother went to school there .
Nice video bro!!! Those were the Piston teams of my youth when I was playing in grade school and high school. Our coach used to make us watch the games as homework. Lol.
Good video I grew up in the 80s & remember the pistons and was wondering what happened to Tripucka. I was hoping he got a ring but I guess not.
I just remember him most as being the sidekick to George Blaha during the Bad Boys 2.0 run
Tripucka.....Jersey Boy ✊🏾✊🏾
9:10 Randy Brayer! Solid backup big man.
Original Hornet baby! Didn't know his dad was a Golden Domer as well.
Good video.
Kelly would definitely win a White Goodman look-a-like contest.
He would've likely been a HOFer if his career peak had been longer and with better teams. He's not quite there, but it's not by much and his career is at least worthy of a HOF discussion. Excellent and creative scorer and a better defender and overall athele than you might expect. He might even crack the Top 150-200 players of all-time, though just barely. Kind of reminds me of Gordon Hayward before his own injuries.
@@zyxwut321 Utah Gordon Hayward was nice!!!!
I don't know how somebody can say he was Underated He was slow No jumping ability And Was a terrible defender, I Remember Bernard king lightn. This man up like a Christmas tree.
I think Bernard Smoke Kelly, for about 50 that night.
Nice job.
As everybody knows, I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American, male, and heterosexual. (all of this shows you where, when, and how I grew up, and what prism I view life through) Let's focus on the 1990-91 Blazers, who blew their best opportunity at an NBA title. Rick Adelman wrote in his book, that during the season, some names they targeted for a trade (for Drazen Petrovic) were Walter Davis (who they got), Kelly Tapioca, Adrian Dantley, and Dell Curry (young, but having a down year, with only 10.6 ppg). Everybody points out how Walter Davis was a BUST in Portland, and cost them Game 1 vs the Lakers, and ultimately, the series. I'm the King of Hindsight 20/20: For those of you anywhere near my age, how do you think Kelly Tapioca could have helped that Blazers team? Maybe, it would have HELPED, that everybody knew he was in his twilight, because the expectation would have been 8-12 minutes per game for him, and just hit some jumpers and free-throws. With Davis and Dantley, there was still some belief that they still had something left in the tank, and would have wanted big minutes.
This was Kelly Tripucka's Detroit career, good scorer playing with Isiah, poor defender.
From 1984-1986, he helped Detroit get into the playoffs.
In those 3 years, he was OUTPLAYED by the other small forward in the playoffs.
1984-BERNARD KING
1985-LARRY BIRD.
1986-DOMINIQUE WILKINS.
Detroit traded him and the small forward position got better defensively with Dennis Rodman and Detroit immediately became a title contender.
lol, I mean u listed 3 of the greatest scoring small forwards of all time. Those dudes torched everyone.
Great scorer.....bad defender.
He went on to found Globo Gym so everything worked out for him...
Bad timing. The team gelled after he left.
No defense hel score 20 Bernard king would score 50
I mean, u r talking of Bernard king, an all time great. No one is saying kelly is hof. But Kelly was a ball player. Phew, zeke and Kelly drafted in the same year. Kelly was a legit part of the championships even though he had long been gone. A pistons legend.