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Trail Blazers legend Jerome Kersey passes away

By CM Towle

Nov 11, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers mascot Blaze waves the team flag before the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers mascot Blaze waves the team flag before the game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Charlotte Hornets at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Portland Trail Blazers legend, Jerome Kersey, passed away on Wednesday from unknown causes.

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It was reported on Wednesday by Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports that Trail Blazers legend Jerome Kersey passed away from as yet unknown causes. A representative from the Trail Blazers later confirmed the news, but did not offer any information on the cause of death. Kersey was 52.

Kersey began his NBA career as a longshot to even make the roster. He came out of Div. II Longwood College as a second round pick, but then he worked his way to the top, surprising fans everywhere when he came in second only to Michael Jordan in the 1987 NBA dunk contest. He was more than just a dunker though, in the 11 years he spent with the Blazers, Kersey was a starter on some of the best Blazers teams in that era. Teams that made two Finals runs with names like Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter on the roster.

Kersey was a strong and explosive player who averaged about 17 points per game in Portland. That wasn’t his only contribution, however. He was known as the guy who provided the grit and hustle that became key to Portland’s winning ways at the time. He was undoubtedly a fan favorite  in the Portland area and his loyalty to staying with the team helped that considerably.

Unfortunately, he became a casualty of the expansion draft, where he was unprotected and ended up playing for the Raptors. After that, he made his rounds through the league, at one point landing with the Spurs and picking up a championship ring in the 1998-99 season.

His best season with the Blazers came in 1987-88 when he averaged 19.2 points per game and had 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals.. When he retired in 2001, he was listed second on the Blazers all-time list, playing in 831 games and recording 5,078 rebounds.

Kersey stayed active in the Portland area after he retired. Just a day prior to his death, Kersey was speaking at a Portland area school about Black History Month.

H/T Pro Basketball Talk and Oregon Live

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