Kevin Duckworth, 44; was All-Star center for Portland

Kevin Duckworth, 7 feet tall, played 11 seasons in the NBA. (Brent Wojahn/Associated Press/file 1990)

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. - Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, a "gentle giant" with a feathery touch on short-range shots, has died. He was 44.

Mr. Duckworth, part of a Trail Blazers goodwill tour, was scheduled to hold a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast when he died Monday night. The Depoe Bay Fire Department said it responded about 10 p.m. to a report of a man who was down and not breathing at Salishan Lodge at Gleneden Beach, north of Newport on the central coast.

The cause of death was to be determined, but the Lincoln County sheriff's office said there was no indication of foul play.

"Within the world of basketball, within those Trail Blazers teams, he was a jokester," said Phoenix Suns coach Terry Porter, who played with Mr. Duckworth. "He was a big loving teddy bear. At times guys got frustrated because he didn't have a mean streak. He was just a great guy. He loved the team atmosphere, loved being a teammate in those successful Blazer teams."

The 7-footer averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over 11 seasons in the NBA, helping Portland reach the NBA finals in 1990 and 1992. The two-time All-Star also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

"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," Trail Blazers president Larry Miller said.

Mr. Duckworth grew up in the Chicago area and was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs out of Eastern Illinois University in 1986.

The Spurs traded him that season to the Trail Blazers, where he had his greatest success, playing with Porter, Clyde Drexler, Buck Williams, and Jerome Kersey.

Mr. Duckworth remained in the Portland area after he retired in 1997. He ran a construction company in Northern California for a time. A restaurant venture in Vancouver, Wash., with former NBA player Kermit Washington went out of business.