Kevin Duckworth
Two-time All-Star center for the Portland Trail Blazers and 1988 NBA Most Improved Player.
Kevin Jerome Duckworth (April 1, 1964 – August 25, 2008) was an American professional basketball player who played as center in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A native of Illinois, he played college basketball for the Eastern Illinois Panthers before being selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft. Before completing his rookie season with the Spurs, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers where he spent most of his six seasons and was named the NBA's Most Improved Player and a two-time All-Star. After playing with three more teams he retired in 1997 and returned to Oregon where he would later work for the Trail Blazers' organization.
- college
- Eastern Illinois University
Lore & Background
Duckworth was born in Harvey, Illinois, and grew up in Chicago, where he played basketball at Thornridge High School. At Thornridge, he participated in the 1980 and 1981 Illinois State Holiday Classic tournaments. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he set a university record of 867 rebounds. He also led EIU to the Mid-Continent Conference Tournament Championship in 1985 and was the tournament MVP in 1986. He was the ninth pick in the 2nd round of the 1986 NBA draft, chosen by the San Antonio Spurs. Later that season, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for rookie Walter Berry. He earned the 1988 NBA Most Improved Player Award and was named to the Western Conference All-Star team in 1989 and 1991. He played for the Trail Blazers, Washington Bullets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Los Angeles Clippers. He died of heart failure on August 25, 2008, in Gleneden Beach, Oregon.
In Their Own Story
The arena lights hummed overhead as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter. Duckworth planted his feet near the baseline, eyes locked on the rim as the opposing guard drove hard into the lane. With a roar from the crowd echoing through the hardwood floor, he leaped to meet the shot, swatting it away with authority before crashing down to secure the rebound himself.
Reader's Guide
Kevin Duckworth played center for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1986 to 1993. He was a two-time NBA All-Star (1989, 1991) and won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 1988. His best statistical season was 1988–89, averaging 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He helped the Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990. After his playing career, he worked as a Heritage Ambassador for the Trail Blazers and was active in the community. He also worked at Royal Marine Sales, buying and selling small yachts.
Did You Know?
- Duckworth wore jersey number 53 with the Trail Blazers, as indicated by the memorial patch stitched with his number.
- He set a university record of 867 rebounds at Eastern Illinois University, a record that still held at the time of his death.
- After retiring, he settled in Tigard, Oregon, with his girlfriend Tala and her two children.
- The Portland City Council renamed a dock on the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade as the Kevin J. Duckworth Memorial Dock.
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