Duckworth graduated from Eastern in 1986 after setting a school record in rebounding. He was drafted 33rd overall in that year’s draft by the San Antonio Spurs but was quickly dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Duck's career soared in Portland. He established himself as a solid rebounder with a soft-shooting touch. He won the NBA's Most Improved Player award in 1988 and participated in the 1989 and 1991 All-Star games. His best season was during the 1988-89 campaign, where he averaged 18.1 points and eight rebounds. He also teamed with a few no-names like Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and Buck Williams to lead the Blazers to two Western Conference titles (1990 and 1992).

After all those years of service, the Blazers punked out in 1993 and dealt Duckworth to the Washington Bullets for Harvey Grant (what a bust Harvey Grant is! If Harvey was a football player he'd be Brian Bosworth!) The Bullets in 1995 decided to delay their return to the playoffs another two years by dealing Duckworth to the Bucks.

Duckworth signed for the 1996-97 season with the Clippers who, unlike the Bucks, made the playoffs. The Clips lost in the first round though, fair punishment for leaving Duck off the playoff roster. That was his last in the NBA.

Kevin was hobbled by injuries in his final years, including knee problems that required arthroscopic surgery in October 1996. Rumors have it that Duck was continuing to battle weight problems in his post-NBA years.

Duckworth has always had a reputation as a kind, good player. He broke Juwan Howard into the league back in 1994, according to an article in the Rocky Mountain News.

"I did a lot of stuff for him," Howard told the paper. "I would bring him a USA Today. I would bring his practice gear to his (hotel) room before a practice (on the road). If I was getting my ankles taped, I would have to get up so he could get his taped. But he took care of me on the road. He would buy me dinner."

Kevin was inducted into Eastern's sports Hall of Fame in the mid-90s and co-owned Le Slam Sports Cafe in Vancouver, Washington, with former NBA player Kermit Washington from 1995-2000. Kevin also played a bouncer in the 1993 cable movie Fade to Black. After the film, many more discovered what Easternites already knew: even Duckworth can out-act Heather Locklear.

Kevin has had some hard times since 2000. At one point it looked like he had a shot at an NBA coaching job, but that never materialized.

Then, he was betrayed by some folks who he thought were friends. Duck was a key prosecution witness in a 12-year-old double homicide case in which two brothers -- one a former Duckworth pal -- faced charges of aggravated murder. Investigators said Duckw was one of several people whom the defendants confessed to after a 1991 shooting.

Duckworth has returned several times since he left Eastern and has a huge following on campus (even though the university doesn't do a thing to promote him). The most recent appearance was at his EIU sports Hall of Fame ceremony in the mid-1990s. He likes to fish for halibut and enjoys training dogs.

A columnist at About.com showed Duck's old house in Cedar Hills, a suburb of Portland in a brick house that has seven garage doors (left). He moved out of there in the mid 1990s and now lives outside of Oregon City.

However, there is no truth to the rumor, espoused by Rod Strickland in one edition Sports Illustrated, that Duckworth eats his pets.

Sources for information and some photos: Portland Oregonian, Rocky Mountain News, NBA and The Sporting News L.A. Times, and Ross' Unofficial Los Angeles Clippers Website