Ex-Rebel ‘Spoon’ James, 45, found dead in jail

Former UNLV basketball player Frank "Spoon" James was found dead Wednesday in a cell at the Las Vegas City Jail. He was 45.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Detroit Pistons in the 1985 NBA Draft, James was found by four cellmates at approximately 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Las Vegas Metro Police Department public information officer Martin Wright said James was detained Monday night for traffic violations.

The official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy followed by severe hypertensive cardiovascular disease -- also known as an enlarged heart -- a spokeswoman for the Clark County Coroner's office said Thursday.

City of Las Vegas spokesman David Riggleman said James was pulled over for failure to maintain right of way and was detained for driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered vehicle and having no proof of insurance.

James played for the Rebels in 1983-84 and 1984-85, averaging 10.0 points per game in 26.8 minutes during his two-year career at UNLV. His brothers Keith and Karl "Boobie" James also played for the Rebels.

Keith James considered his late brother to be the leader of the James basketball family.

"Spoon paved the way for all our basketball careers. He kicked down every door that there was to kick down," Keith James said.

"When me and Boobie were about 14, 15, and Spoon and (older brother Kenneth) were 17, 18, we thought we could take them from time to time," Keith James said. "They always let us get out to a lead, thinking we could win, but they'd come back and crush us. Those battles were the reason why we were able to play at the level we were able to play."

James played for San Jacinto (Texas) College out of famed Dunbar High School in Baltimore, where he earned the nickname ''Spoon.''

Former Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian spoke fondly of James, though their contact had been sparse during the last several years.

"I didn't see him a lot over the years, but when Danny (Tarkanian) came in and opened that new facility, Spoon worked there for two years and did a great job," Tarkanian said. "The kids and parents loved him."

Keith James said his brother treasured his time with UNLV.

"I honestly believe that my brother Spoon was one of the most well-liked Rebels in UNLV history," Keith James said. "He was kind, he was warm-hearted, he was genuine. ... And the town loved the game at the time -- it was an incredible, magical time."

Frank James is survived by mother Brenda, daughters Brianna and Coco and brothers Keith, Karl and Kenneth James and Joseph Gross.