American professional basketball player Kevin Duckworth, a former Portland Trail Blazers center, has died Monday while on a trip to the Oregon Coast to host a free basketball clinic at 44. The cause of death is yet unknown. A spokesman for the Depoe Bay Fire Department told the press that they responded to a 10 p.m. call, finding him unconscious at Salishan Lodge. He was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. after resuscitation attempts failed.

Kevin Jerome Duckworth, aka The Duck won the 1988 NBA Most Improved Player Award, after shooting 77 percent from the free throw line, among other improvements. He continued his improvement but struggled with a poor physical conditioning for most of his career. Kevin Duckworth was a Heritage Ambassador for the Portland Trailblazers, the team confirmed.

In its statement, The Blazers said that Duckworth will be remembered by those who knew him as one of the warmest and biggest- hearted players to ever wear the Blazers uniform. Duckworth retired in 1997 and remained in the Portland area. He is survived by his fiancé and their two children.