Former NBA player Jerome Kersey dies at 52

Former NBA player Jerome Kersey died Wednesday at the age of 52.

Former NBA player Jerome Kersey died Wednesday at the age of 52, a Trail Blazers communications official confirmed to KGW News in Portland. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports and Joe Freeman of The Oregonianalso reported the news.

No cause of death has been announced.

Kersey played 17 seasons in the NBA, including 11 with the Trail Blazers. The 6-foot-7 small forward was known for his explosiveness and rugged playing nature, participating in the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest from 1986-89. Kersey won an NBA title with San Antonio in 1999, when the Spurs defeated the New York Knicks in five games.

Jerome Kersey Tribute

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Charles Barkley and A.C. Green try to box out Jerome Kersey in Game 3 of the 1995 Western Conference quarterfinals.

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Jerome Kersey dunks against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 1998 Western Conference semifinals.

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Jerome Kersey shoots at the Oakland Coliseum.

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Jerome Kersey played 11 seasons for the Portland Trail Blazers.

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Jerome Kersey tries to get by Chris Mullin.

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Jerome Kersey pumps his fist as he runs past Eddie Jones during a Western Conference semifinal.

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Michael Jordan tries to hold off Jerome Kersey during Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals.

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Charles Barkley and Jerome Kersey battle for position during a 1998 game in Houston.

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Kersey played in 76 games for the Golden State Warriors in the 1995-96 season.

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Jerome Kersey shows his displeasure to referee Hue Hollins in a 1997 game in Salt Lake City.

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Jerome Kersey retired in 2001 with 11,825 points, 6,339 rebounds, 2,134 assists and 799 blocks.

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Jerome Kersey rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 2 of the 1999 Western Conference Finals.

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Kersey won his only NBA title while playing with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.

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Jerome Kersey performs with the Blazer Dancers during a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Blazers on April 12, 2013 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland.

Kersey enjoyed his best individual years in the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons. In the former, he averaged 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In 1988-89, Kersey averaged 17.5 points and 8.3 rebounds. He later started on Portland's 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals teams.

Kersey also played for the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks. He retired in 2001 with 11,825 points, 6,339 rebounds, 2,134 assists and 799 blocks.

A Clarksville, Va., native, Kersey played his college ball at Longwood University in Farmville, Va. He was the No. 46 overall pick by the Trail Blazers in the 1984 draft.

Kersey made an appearance on behalf of the Trail Blazers Tuesday night, speaking at Madison High School in Portland along with former Trail Blazers Brian Grant and Terry Porter.

- Mike Fiammetta