PORTLAND, Ore. -- Jerome Kersey, the versatile small forward who helped the Portland Trail Blazers reach two NBA Finals and won a title with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999, died Wednesday. He was 52.
The team's communications department confirmed the death late Wednesday. The cause of death was not immediately known. He passed away at Legacy Meridian Medical Park Center in Tualatin.
According to Comcast SportsNet, Kersey underwent a knee surgery earlier this week and Wednesday reportedly told fellow Trail Blazer employees at the team's Rose Quarter office that he wasn't feeling well and was going to go home. Lake Oswego fire officials confirmed that they responded to a call at the Kersey home around 5 p.m. Wednesday.
"He was a good man," longtime Blazers announcer Bill Schonely told KGW.Schonely created the "Mercy mercy Jerome Kersey" monker.
"Today we lost an incredible person and one of the most beloved players to ever wear a Trail Blazers uniform," Blazers owner Paul Allen said in a statement. "My thoughts and condolences are with the Kersey family. He will be missed by all of us. It's a terrible loss."
A team ambassador, Kersey appeared Tuesday with fellow former Blazers Terry Porter and Brian Grant at a Portland high school in celebration of African American History Month.
Kersey averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 17 seasons in the NBA with Portland, Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle, San Antonio and Milwaukee. He helped the Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, playing alongside Porter, Clyde Drexler, Kevin Duckworth and Buck Williams.
"He was the greatest guy, the nicest friend, teammate and brother. He was loved by everyone. We will all miss him. He just cared so much," Drexler told Comcast SportsNet Northwest. "This is unbelievable."
Kersey had his best season in 1987-88, averaging 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. Kersey played in 1,153 regular-season games, also averaging 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals.
The Blazers recorded a rap video in the Kersey era called Bust A Bucket. Kersey solos at 2:20.
The former Longwood University star ranks second on Portland's career games list with 831, third in minutes played at 21,400, second in rebounds with 5,078, third steals with 1,059, and fifth in points with 10,067.
At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, "No Mercy" Kersey had a broad smile and a warm manner that made him a fan favorite.
Kersey retired from basketball in 2001. He was an assistant coach with Milwaukee in 2004-05 under Porter. In addition to serving as a team ambassador, he appeared on Blazers' broadcasts for Comcast SportsNet Northwest.
At Longwood, a Division II school in Farmville, Virginia, Kersey averaged 17 points and 11.3. He was a second-round pick by the Blazers in the 1984 draft.
Kersey lived with wife Teri in Lake Oswego.
