Kevin Duckworth, former NBA player, dies

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Kevin Duckworth, an 11-year NBA player, has died while participating in a Portland Trail Blazers' summer tour. He was 44.

A cause of death wasn't released but The Oregonian, a Portland, Ore., newspaper, quoted a Depoe Bay Fire Department spokesman as saying the initial report indicated a heart problem. Emergency personnel responded to a call about 10 p.m. Monday and Duckworth was declared dead shortly after that.

Duckworth was on an Oregon Coast tour as part of the Trail Blazers' summer tour. He had participated in a free basketball clinic for children Monday.

"Today is an extremely sad day for the Trail Blazers' family," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said. "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."

Duckworth played in 684 NBA games over 11 seasons. In addition to playing for the Trail Blazers, he was with San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over his NBA career.