Kevin Duckworth, R.I.P.

From ESPN.com:

Kevin Duckworth, a two-time NBA All-Star who spent the majority of his 12 NBA seasons as the Portland Trail Blazers' center, has died. He was 44.

Duckworth died Monday in Kernville, Ore., near the coastal town of Lincoln City. His death was confirmed by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Duckworth was in town as part of a Trail Blazers group hosting a free kids basketball clinic, Fox 12 reported on its Web site.

The cause of his death was not released Tuesday morning.

The 7-foot Duckworth started at center when the Trail Blazers won Western Conference titles in 1990 and '92. He played in the NBA All-Star Game in 1989 and '91.

If you're reading this site, you probably know that Duckworth's in Prada/Jake/Truth's pantheon of Bullet Curiosities...as a giant, fat center who spent two years with the Bullets in the early '90s, probably not as awe-inspiring as God Shammgod or Ledell Eackles, but up there nonetheless.

While a great natural athlete, Duckworth struggled with weight problems his entire NBA career. Unlike Oliver Miller, he briefly overcame them to earn some prominence with the Blazers, but by the time he made it to D.C., Duckworth had regressed to a backup role and the easy target of fans' frustration.

So, godspeed Kevin Duckworth. Perhaps someone will be inspired to remember him best--the way that this site knows how?

Editor's Note from TAI: Thanks to We Rite Goode for the FanPost which has been bumped up to the front page. I'm sure this unfortunate news is shocking to us all in some manner. As WRG has mentioned, Duckworth is currently available among the Bullets Curiosities Project. In this situation, it'd probably be best in the coming days to compile thoughts about Kevin Duckworth, and his time in Washington, from whomever would like to submit, into one post. Our thoughts also go out to the Duckworth family.