Kelly Tripucka is a well-known American former professional basketball player who was born on February 16, 1959 (67 years old) in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, United States.
Kelly played mainly as a small forward/shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for ten seasons, from 1981 to 1991. Over the years, he became widely known for his scoring ability, averaging over twenty points a game in five of his ten NBA seasons.
One of the biggest highlights of Kelly’s career is being a two-time NBA All-Star (1982 and 1984), and he scored the first points in Charlotte Hornets franchise history during their inaugural 1988–89 season.
Quick Facts of Kelly Tripucka
| Full Name | Peter Kelly Tripucka |
| Profession | Former Basketball Player, Sportscaster (Basketball Analyst) |
| Age | 67 years old |
| Date of Birth | February 16, 1959 |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Birthplace | Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA |
| Current Address | Boonton Township, New Jersey, USA |
| Gender | Male |
Kelly Tripucka Early Life and Education
Kelly Tripucka grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and was a three-year starter for the Bloomfield High School boys’ basketball team from 1974 to 1977. In his three varsity seasons, he scored 2,278 points, including 1,045 points during his senior year alone, and his jersey (#42) was retired by Bloomfield High School.
Kelly was also a two-time high school All-American at Bloomfield. His dominance at the school level later earned him the honor of being named the “New Jersey Boys’ Basketball Player of the Century” by the Star-Ledger newspaper in 2000.
Education
Kelly was a four-year starter at the University of Notre Dame and led the Fighting Irish in scoring each year. In his senior year (1980–81), he averaged 18.2 points per game on 55.1% shooting, along with 5.8 rebounds per game.
He helped Notre Dame reach the NCAA Tournament in all four of his years and was part of the 1978 Fighting Irish squad, the only
men’s team in school history to reach the Final Four.
| School | Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Jersey |
| Alma Mater | University of Notre Dame |
| Highest Qualification | Graduated from the University of Notre Dame |
Kelly Tripucka Personal Life
Kelly Tripucka is married. Kelly is married to Janice Tripucka, and together the couple settled down and raised their family in Boonton Township, New Jersey. The couple has been married for over 35 years.
About Janice Tripucka
There is very limited publicly available information about Janice Tripucka. She is known mainly through her family, having supported her son Jake’s athletic journey, famously driving him from baseball practice to lacrosse practice for three years during his childhood.
Children
Kelly and Janice have three children.
Sons
- Travis Tripucka is one of Kelly’s sons, who became a professional football player and long snapper in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and New York Jets.
- Jake Tripucka is one of Kelly’s sons, who became a professional lacrosse player. Jake played midfielder at Duke University, where he was part of the 2013 NCAA championship team, and was drafted 42nd overall by the Hamilton Nationals in the 2013 MLL Collegiate Draft. He later played for the Charlotte Hounds and the New York Lizards.
Parents
Kelly Tripucka’s parents are Frank and Randy Tripucka.
Father
Frank Tripucka, Kelly’s father, was a professional football quarterback who played in the NFL, AFL, and CFL, and is a Denver Broncos Hall of Famer and former Pro Bowl (and CFL) quarterback. Frank’s athletic legacy is often credited as the foundation of the Tripucka family’s multi-generational sports tradition.
Mother
Kelly Tripucka’s mother was Randy Tripucka (née Jewkes). She was Frank Tripucka’s high school sweetheart, and the couple married the day before Frank graduated from the University of Notre Dame. Together, they raised a prominent athletic family of seven children.
Siblings
Kelly Tripucka has six siblings:
- Heather Tripucka: She is Kelly’s only sister, a twin to their brother Tracy, and played college tennis.
- Tracy Tripucka: He played college basketball at Lafayette College, scoring over 1,000 career points for the Leopards.
- Mark Tripucka: He played college football as a quarterback for the UMass Minutemen.
- Todd Tripucka: He followed his twin brother Tracy to Lafayette College, where he also played standout college basketball.
- T.K. Tripucka: Standing 6-foot-9, he played college basketball for the Fordham Rams.
- Chris Tripucka: He played college football at Boston College as a quarterback and wide receiver alongside Heisman winner Doug Flutie.
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Janice Tripucka |
| Children | Sons: Travis Tripucka and Jake Tripucka |
| Parents | Father: Frank Tripucka Mother: Randy Tripucka (née Jewkes) |
| Siblings | Brother: Tracy, Mark, Todd, T.K., and Chris Sister: Heather Tripucka |
Kelly Tripucka Career
Kelly Tripucka is a retired two-time NBA All-Star who enjoyed a 10-year NBA career as a prolific small forward, playing for the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets.
After retiring as a player, he built a long second career in sports media as a basketball analyst and broadcaster.
Detroit Pistons (1981–1986)
Kelly was selected 12th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1981 NBA draft. He proved to be an instant sensation, averaging 21.6 points per game and earning an NBA All-Star selection in his rookie season, along with a place on the NBA All-Rookie First Team (1982).
In his second season (1982–83), Kelly had the best season of his professional career, averaging a career-best 26.5 points and 4.1 assists per game, though he played in only 58 games. He led the league in minutes per game that season (38.8).
In his third season (1983–84), Kelly averaged 21.3 points per game and earned his second All-Star selection. He helped the Pistons reach their first playoff appearance since the 1976–77 season, where they were eliminated in five games in the first-round series in which Kelly scored 40 points, sharing the NBA record for most points in a first road playoff game.
In the 1984–85 season, Kelly averaged 19.1 points per game in 55 games and started all nine playoff games, helping the Pistons advance to the second round.
In his fifth season (1985–86), he missed only one game, averaged 20 points per game, and led Detroit to a third straight postseason appearance, playing alongside Pistons great Isiah Thomas.
Utah Jazz (1986–1988)
After five successful seasons in Detroit, the Pistons traded Kelly and teammate Kent Benson to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Adrian Dantley and future draft picks.
Kelly’s time in Utah was frustrating; he did not get along with Jazz coach Frank Layden, who was building the team around young stars John Stockton and Karl Malone, and Kelly was upset by his reduced role in the offense.
Kelly had two lackluster seasons with the Jazz, averaging only 10.1 points per game in 1986–87 and 7.5 points per game in 1987–88. The Jazz made the playoffs both seasons, but Kelly made little impact, appearing in only two games during the 1988 NBA playoffs.
Charlotte Hornets (1988–1991)
After two disappointing seasons in Utah, Kelly was traded to the Charlotte Hornets — a new expansion team at the time — in exchange for Mike Brown. In his first season with the Hornets, Kelly returned to his All-Star form, leading the team with 22.6 points per game and scoring the first points in franchise history.
In his second season with Charlotte (1989–90), Kelly averaged 15.6 points per game, but the team struggled. In the 1990–91 season, his tenth and final NBA season, Kelly came off the bench and averaged career lows of 7.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
CSP Limoges (1991–1992)
After failing to find suitors in the NBA, Kelly signed with French Nationale 1A club CSP Limoges for the 1991–92 season. In February 1992, he was replaced by Tim Legler. In 7 league games in France, Kelly averaged 17.6 points per game.
Broadcasting Career (1993–Present)
Kelly became a color commentator for Detroit Pistons television broadcasts for eight seasons, from 1993 to 2001. After the 2000–01 season, he left to take a full-time radio job with the New Jersey Nets, and from 2003 to 2005, he served as the color commentator for Nets telecasts on the YES Network.
On November 7, 2008, Kelly joined the New York Knicks broadcast team on MSG Network, working alongside legendary broadcasters Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Gus Johnson, and Mike Breen, and remained there until 2012.
He has also called college basketball for Westwood One radio, hosted NBA talk shows for SiriusXM Radio, served as an NBA scout for the New York Knicks, and joined Compass Media Networks as a college basketball analyst during the 2018–19 season.
Kelly Tripucka Awards and Achievements
Kelly Tripucka’s major career recognitions include:
- 1978: Helped Notre Dame reach the only men’s Final Four in school history.
- 1979: Named an Academic All-American at the University of Notre Dame.
- 1979: Named a Consensus Second-Team All-American.
- 1980: Named a UPI Third-Team All-American.
- 1981: Named a Consensus Second-Team All-American for his senior season at Notre Dame.
- 1982: Selected as an NBA All-Star as a rookie with the Detroit Pistons.
- 1982: Named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
- 1984: Selected as an NBA All-Star for the second time.
- 2000: Inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.
- 2000: Named the New Jersey Boys’ Basketball Player of the Century by The Star-Ledger.
- 2008: Voted to the Detroit Pistons 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
- 2020: Inducted into the Notre Dame Purcell Pavilion Ring of Honor.
- 1982: Appeared on the NBA Rookie of the Year ballot for his 21.6 PPG rookie season; Buck Williams won the award.
Kelly Tripucka Controversy
Kelly Tripucka has largely stayed away from major controversies throughout his career, with one notable on-court incident:
- The “DICK” Sneaker Incident (1989): Shortly after Jazz coach Frank Layden resigned, Karl Malone paid tribute to his former coach by writing “FRANK” on the heels of his sneakers during a game between the Jazz and Hornets. In a mock gesture, Kelly, who felt Malone and Layden had run him out of Utah, responded by writing “DICK” on the back of his own shoes, in tribute to then-Hornets coach Dick Harter. The move was widely seen as a public jab at Layden and Malone.
Kelly Tripucka Net Worth
Kelly Tripucka’s exact net worth is around $1-$5 million.
| Net Worth (Approx.) | $1-$5 million |
Kelly Tripucka Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
Below are the physical stats of Kelly Tripucka:
| Height | In centimetres: 198 cm In meters: 1.98 m In feet & inches: 6 feet 6 inches |
| Weight | In kg: 99 kg In lbs: 220 lbs |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
Kelly Tripucka Social Media
 Kelly Tripucka |
Interesting Facts About Kelly Tripucka
- Kelly averaged 20+ points per game in five of his ten NBA seasons.
- He became a lacrosse fan through his son and now calls it his favorite sport.
- He played alongside Isiah Thomas in Detroit and John Stockton and Karl Malone in Utah.
- Tripucka is one of only six Pistons to score 40+ points in a playoff game.
FAQs
Who is Kelly Tripucka?
Kelly Tripucka is an American former professional basketball player who played ten seasons in the NBA for the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets, and who later became a basketball broadcaster and analyst.
How old is Kelly Tripucka?
Kelly Tripucka is 67 years old, born on February 16, 1959, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
What is Kelly Tripucka famous for?
Kelly Tripucka is famous for being a two-time NBA All-Star, a member of the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1982, and for scoring the first points in Charlotte Hornets franchise history.
Is Kelly Tripucka married?
Yes, Kelly Tripucka is married to Janice Tripucka.
Does Kelly Tripucka have kids?
Yes, Kelly Tripucka has three children, namely, sons Travis (former NFL long snapper) and Jake (professional lacrosse player), and daughter Reagan.
