National Basketball Association

Colleagues, current and former Blazers recall Jerome Kersey

Published Feb. 19, 2015 6:25 p.m. ET

foxsports

''Like so many of you guys I woke up this morning and - I thought it was a bad dream. As a teammate he was the best teammate you could have. He would run through walls for you. He got every ounce out of his talent that was humanly possible.'' - Former Blazers guard Terry Porter.

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''It's been some 45 years since we brought the Blazers here, and in those 45, and the next 45, the Blazers will never have a better human being than Jerome Kersey.'' - Trail Blazers President Emeritus Harry Glickman.

''When you're with somebody like that, you don't think it's the last time you're going to see him alive. I'm still in shock from it. He and Terry have been there for me this past year through some difficult things that I'm going through. Just a great individual. Forget basketball. Just the person. It's a huge, huge, huge loss to this community, to this organization and to me as a firend.'' - Former Blazers center Brian Grant.

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''I've known Jerome since he came into the league. How he earned his spot on our roster is an inspiring story and underscores just what a warrior he was. He never quit. He was someone you could count on every time he stepped on the court. He was just such a rock for those special Trail Blazers teams.'' - Former Blazers coach Rick Adelman.

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''We were all shocked. For us, he was a warrior. He was a heck of a teammate and really a rough-and-tumble kind of guy on the court. It was just his demeanor, his overall toughness and his positive attitude. He was consistently professional every game. He came and laid it on the line and that infused everybody, so he was very important in the maturation and the establishment of a culture.'' - Current Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

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''It's just unbelievable to hear that he died at that age. I was absolutely floored when I heard it. I can't believe it. I spoke to him the last time we were in Portland, and I had a good five- to 10-minute conversation to just sit there and talk to him. It was always good to see him, and to see him back with the Blazers. He was a veteran who brought real energy to our team and helped us win a championship.'' - Spurs forward Tim Duncan.

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''He was someone I was familiar with before I came here. He always came off as real person. He came from something similar that I came from and I understood, and he understood me. I took everything that he had to say to me to heart.''' - Current Blazers guard Damian Lillard.

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''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. This is unbelievable.'' - Former Blazer great Clyde Drexler.

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''I think it was against Chicago, 1990 or maybe it was `89, a long time ago. Typical Jerome night. I think it was Terry (Porter) who passed him the ball and of course you knew how fast and how hard he ran. He got the ball, dribbled a couple of times and with a two-hander he stuffed that baby and right then I said, `Mercy, mercy Jerome Kersey,' and it stuck.'' - Former Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely.

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''Jerome Kersey was the embodiment of Longwood basketball. When you look at a student-athlete in terms of ability, attitude, leadership and commitment to excellence, Jerome had it all. His name has been synonymous with this program for decades, and his passing leaves a significant hole in the lives of everyone he encountered. The Longwood basketball family will keep Jerome and his family in our prayers.'' - Longwood University coach Jayson Gee.