Aug 26th 2008 1:03PM by Brett Edwards (author feed)
Filed under: Trail BlazersSad news out of Portland this morning, as former Trail
Blazer and two-time NBA All-Star Kevin Duckworth has passed away at the age of
44. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

Duckworth was a member of
the Blazers from 1986-1993, and was a fan favorite who played a substantial role
on two Blazers’ Western Conference Championship teams in 1990 and 1992.
Blazers’ fan Henry Abbott of TrueHoop shares this fond memory of the
Blazers’ big man:
I’ll always remember Duckworth for his starring role in the most exciting
basketball game I have ever seen in person: Portland’s come-from-behind
Game 7 win over Larry Brown, David Robinson, Rod Strickland, and the San Antonio
Spurs in the second-round of the 1990 playoffs.

Duckworth played in that
game against doctor’s orders, and while his stat line proved to be
average, he managed to make things extremely difficult for Robinson, helping
Portland keep things close. Portland found themselves down seven in the closing
minutes, but made a late and thrilling run to send the game to overtime, where
they were able to secure a crucial victory on the road to the Finals. Duckworth
remained active in the Portland community, and in fact “was on the Oregon
Coast representing the Trail Blazers as a Heritage Ambassador” when this
occurred. He will certainly be missed.