Jerome Kersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jerome Kersey

Kersey in 2003
Personal information
Born	(1962-06-26)June 26, 1962 Clarksville, Virginia
Nationality	American
Died	February 18, 2015(2015-02-18) (aged 52) Tualatin, Oregon
High school	Bluestone (Skipwith, Virginia)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College	Longwood (1980–1984)
NBA Draft	1984 / Round: 2 / Pick: 46th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Pro career	1984–2001
Career history
1984–1995	Portland Trail Blazers
1995–1996	Golden State Warriors
1996–1997	Los Angeles Lakers
1997–1998	Seattle SuperSonics
1999–2000	San Antonio Spurs
2000–2001	Milwaukee Bucks
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (1999) First-team Division II All-American (1984) Mason–Dixon Player of the Year (1984) First-team All-Mason–Dixon (1984) No. 54 retired by Longwood Lancers
Career NBA statistics
Points	11,825 (10.3 ppg)
Rebounds	6,339 (5.5 rpg)
Assists	2,134 (1.9 apg)

Jerome Kersey (born June 26, 1962 – died February 18, 2015) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for many years. Jerome was known for his energy and strong play on the court.

He played for several teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs, and Milwaukee Bucks. In 1999, Kersey won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs. After his playing career, he worked as an assistant coach. Jerome Kersey passed away in 2015 due to a pulmonary embolism, which is a serious condition caused by a blood clot traveling to the lungs.

College Basketball Career

Jerome Kersey went to Longwood College, which was an NCAA Division II school at the time. While there, he set many school records. He became the all-time leader in points, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots. He also made 57% of his shots, which is very good!

In his final year, he led all Division II players in rebounding, averaging 14.2 rebounds per game. Even after his NBA career, Jerome went back to Longwood. He finished his college degree in May 2006, showing that it's never too late to learn!

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Portland Trail Blazers (1984-1995)

Coming from a smaller college, Jerome Kersey was picked by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 1984 NBA draft. He was the 46th player chosen overall. At first, he came off the bench, but he soon became a starter.

By his third year, he was playing really well. He even finished second to Michael Jordan in the Slam Dunk Contest! The 1987–88 season was his best, as he averaged 19.2 points and 8.3 rebounds. He was a key player for the Blazers, along with stars like Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter. This team made it to the NBA Finals twice, in 1990 and 1992. Later, another player named Clifford Robinson took his starting spot, and Kersey played less.

Moving to the Golden State Warriors (1995-1996)

By 1995, the Portland Trail Blazers had many good players at Kersey's position. He was chosen by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, but they decided not to keep him. He then signed with the Golden State Warriors. He started 58 games for them.

Playing for the Los Angeles Lakers (1996-1997)

For the 1996–97 season, Kersey joined the Los Angeles Lakers. He had a good year, playing a lot of minutes. This was because the Lakers had some player trades and injuries, which meant they needed him on the court more.

Time with the Seattle SuperSonics (1997-1998)

The 1997–98 season saw Jerome Kersey join his fourth team in four years, the Seattle SuperSonics. Unfortunately, injuries kept him from playing much of the season.

Winning a Championship with the San Antonio Spurs (1999-2000)

In the 1998–99 season, which was shorter due to a player lockout, Kersey joined the San Antonio Spurs. This team went on to win the NBA championship! Kersey helped the team by providing experience and depth off the bench during their championship run. He stayed with the Spurs for one more season.

Final Season with the Milwaukee Bucks (2000-2001)

Jerome Kersey played his last NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks made it to the Eastern Conference Finals that year but didn't reach the championship. After this season, he retired from playing professional basketball.

Jerome Kersey's Legacy

Jerome Kersey left a big mark on the Portland Trail Blazers. When he left the team, he was among the top players in many of the team's all-time records. This included games played, minutes played, points scored, rebounds, assists, and steals.

In 2003, Jerome Kersey talks to kids on a basketball court in Japan.

After retiring in 2001, Kersey worked as a coach for different teams. He was hired by the Trail Blazers in 2003 to help with player programs. Then, he became an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2004, working under his former teammate, Terry Porter.

In November 2005, Jerome Kersey was one of the first people inducted into Longwood University's Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was also inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. To honor him, the basketball court at Longwood's facility was named after him in 2016.

Personal Life

Jerome Kersey married Teri Donnerberg on September 21, 2013, in Portland, Oregon. They had been together for over nine years. Together, they had four children from their previous relationships.

His Passing

A memorial for Jerome Kersey outside the Moda Center in 2015.

Jerome Kersey passed away suddenly on February 18, 2015, at the age of 52. Just a few days before, he had knee surgery. On the day he died, he left the Trail Blazers' office because he wasn't feeling well. Doctors later said that his death was caused by a blood clot that traveled to his lungs. This serious condition is called a pulmonary embolism.

NBA Career Statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

In Spanish: Jerome Kersey para niños