Two-time NBA all-star Kevin Duckworth died in Oregon at the young age of 44. Duckworth died while on a trip to the Oregon coast to host a basketball clinic.
Duckworth was born in Harvey and went to Thornridge and Eastern Illinois. The 7-foot, 275-pounder was then drafted in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs. He joined the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986 and was a starter there in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“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.
He went on to play for the Washington Bullets (1993-95) and Milwaukee Bucks (1995-96) before retiring from the NBA in 1997 after a season with the Los Angeles Clippers. The cause of his death is not known.