LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (AP) — Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died while on a trip to the Oregon Coast to host a free basketball clinic. He was 44.
The Lincoln County sheriff's office confirmed the death. He died Monday.
The 7-foot Duckworth averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over 11 seasons in the NBA, helping Portland reach the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992. The two-time All-Star also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers.
"Kevin will be remembered by fans as one of the most popular and recognizable players to ever wear the Blazers uniform, but to people who knew him, he'll be remembered as one of the warmest and biggest-hearted," Trail Blazers president Larry Miller said.
The Blazers said he was representing the team on a 19-city tour of Oregon.
He wasn't in the best physical shape throughout his career (even when he was a heck of a center for the Trail Blazers), so it wouldn't shock me if it was some heart-related issue. That's so young, though...very sad.