Originally published Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
NBA | Ex-Blazers All-Star Kevin Duckworth dies at 44
Kevin Duckworth, a former Portland Trail Blazers center who had a feathery touch from the paint, died Monday night. He was 44. Duckworth, part of a...
LINCOLN CITY, Ore. — Kevin Duckworth, a former Portland Trail Blazers center who had a feathery touch from the paint, died Monday night. He was 44.
Duckworth, part of a Trail Blazers goodwill tour, was scheduled to hold a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast. The Depoe Bay Fire Department said it responded at about 10 p.m. Monday to a report of a man who was down and not breathing at Salishan Lodge in Gleneden Beach.
The cause of death was to be determined by a medical examiner but the Lincoln County sheriff's office said there was no indication of foul play.
"Within the world of basketball, within those Trail Blazers teams, he was a jokester," said Phoenix Suns coach Terry Porter, who was Duckworth's teammate. "He was a big, loving teddy bear. At times, guys got frustrated because he didn't have a mean streak.
"He was just a great guy. He loved the team atmosphere, loved being a teammate in those successful Blazer teams."
Duckworth, a two-time All-Star, played for five teams in 11 NBA seasons, averaging 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds. Of his 684 league games, 527 were with the Blazers.
Duckworth, listed at 7 feet and 280 pounds in the Portland media guide, averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds for the Blazers in the 1988-89 season.
Porter said Duckworth battled weight problems recently.
Former Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely recalled Duckworth as a "gentle giant" and an affectionate man who loved to hug people.
"When you got hugged by Kevin Duckworth, you got hugged," Schonely said.
Note
• Retired player Wayman Tisdale, 44, had part of his right leg amputated Monday because of bone cancer. Tisdale spent 12 seasons in the league, averaging 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. The forward-center played for Indiana, Sacramento and Phoenix.
Tisdale, an award-winning jazz musician, said he plans to resume touring in the fall. On his Web site, Tisdale said removing a portion of the leg would be the best way to ensure the cancer would not return.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
NBA | D'Antoni didn't bench Nate Robinson for poor shot
NBA | Martell Webster propels Trail Blazers
Bremerton's Marvin Williams helps lead Hawks to win
Jazz gets rare win in San Antonio
NBA | Brandon Roy scores 20 as Trail Blazers hold off Pistons

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
8 Drawer Dresser with Attached Mirror - $200
8 seat pecon formal dining table and china hutch - $1500
A American Table, Chairs and Bench - $275
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
Give yourself a treat and visit Watson Kennedy's Holiday Open Houses
More minding the store
events for Monday, Nov. 23
- Kimberly Baker Jewelry Launch Party
- Bella Umbrella Holiday Sale
- CraftsGiving
- Beyond Threads Outlet Biannual Clearance Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
283 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
168 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
167 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
132 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
126 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
91 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
70 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
66 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
62 - Ranking the Pac
53
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Taste | The Great Pie Bake-off pits friends and fruit




