Former NBA Star, Jerome Kersey
a Profile by Bob Cohen & Alejandra Toca
| | I ask Jerome to tell me about the one thing that stands out most in his career. He flatly stated, "Draft Day, June 26, 1984. It was my birthday, and I actually got drafted on my birthday." | 
| | How did Jerome get involved with the Sports Classic? "About five or six years ago Greg Wilcher, a close friend of Howard Kelsey's, called me and asked me if I'd like to play in a tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I told him 'sure,' and after meeting Howard, I've been coming to Puerto Vallarta ever since." | 
| | Bob Cohen, former NBA Star Jerome Kersey and Alejandra Toca are all smiles for the camera. |
Walking into a restaurant crowded with celebrities and dignitaries from the recent 13th Annual Sports Classic, ex-NBA basketball legend Jerome Kersey spotted me as I arrived to join the group for dinner. He stood up shook my hand and embraced me with a hug a Mexican would be proud to receive.
Jerome, who missed last year's Classic due to his coaching job in the NBA, had promised me an exclusive interview two years prior. He clearly remembered his promise, stating, "Bob, I owe you one."
That is the type of man Jerome Kersey is. His huge smile that lights up any room is entirely genuine, and people tend to gravitate around him. Kersey has lived an athlete's dream, coming from tiny Clarksville, Virginia, starring for Longwood University, a small college basketball team, before being selected in the second round of the 1985 pro draft by the Portland Trailblazers, the 46th overall pick. "That had to be the highlight of my life," Kersey stated over breakfast at the Sheraton Resort in Puerto Vallarta.
Kersey played eleven seasons with the Portland Trailblazers before spending some time at Golden State, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Antonio and Milwaukee. In San Antonio in 2001 he reached the pinnacle of any professional athlete's career; he won an NBA championship ring.
Overall, Jerome played 17 seasons in the NBA and is in the Top 3 in almost all of offensive and defensive Portland's all-time statistics. His unselfish style of play enhanced the games of the stars that played alongside him.
How did Jerome get involved with the Sports Classic? "About five or six years ago Greg Wilcher, a close friend of Howard Kelsey's, called me and asked me if I'd like to play in a tournament in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I told him 'sure,' and after meeting Howard, I've been coming to Puerto Vallarta ever since."
"Being in another country has always been a great thing for me, so I enjoyed it and it gave me an opportunity to see another part of the world and experience another culture. I have a lot of friends that have been to Cabo and Mazatlan, the one thing I tell them is that when you come to Puerto Vallarta, you're visiting the real Mexico."
I ask Jerome to tell me about the one thing that stands out most in his career. He flatly stated, "Draft Day, June 26, 1984. It was my birthday, and I actually got drafted on my birthday. I wasn't even sure I would get drafted by any pro basketball team; my college had only 2900 students. I didn't work out for any pro teams; however, I knew there might be some interest as I did play well in the post season tournaments. I was very surprised when Portland selected me."
And Portland never regretted selecting Jerome. In the eleven years he played with the Trailblazers he still ranks 2nd in career games, rebounds, blocked shots, 3rd in scoring and steals and 4th in field goals.
A little known bit of trivia came in the 1986 NBA All Star game. This is when the stars competed in the slam dunk competition and Kersey finished second to Michael Jordan. He played with a group of players in Portland that had become family to him and that culminated in reaching the NBA finals two years in a row.
When asked about the fondest memory of his career, Kersey responded; "I've had a lot of great memories playing basketball, especially the two years Portland had in the championship runs. The team was together so long that the core group of guys were like family. Of course, winning the championship with San Antonio was a highlight and the pinnacle of my career, but I think the friendships that were formed are the most precious things I won while playing professional basketball."
Regarding the players in Jerome's era and today's players Jerome flatly stated, "They're spoiled! If you have talent and don't develop it during this age of basketball, then it's a shame. Teams take the time to actually go and develop players every day. Whatever you need, it's there all the time."
"When I came along, they worked with you but you had to be more self-sufficient, you had to go to the gym when there wasn't a practice. You had to work on your game and develop it for yourself - that's how your game would grow. But now they take the kids out of high school, and if they want to go to the gym at 7:00 at night, there is a coach that will go with them... in fact he's expected to go with them whenever they want to go."
When asked what he thought about players that state that they are athletes and not role models he replied, "They are! If you want special attention then you have to give some back because whether you want it or not, you are highly publicized and in the entertainment business with a lot of kids watching and they want to emulate you, so you want to set your best foot forward. It is sad for our youth to have role models that portray gang type behavior, for one."
As for Kersey's role as a professional basketball player and team player, he commented about how he needed to adjust his talent to fit the team. "When you say team, different players have to play different roles. We all come out of college as good or great scorers but all of a sudden you have to find out what is the nature of your team. Maybe it's not to score every night, but on a given night maybe it is."
"You need to find out what your forte is and try to do that and be consistent. You might be able to go out and score 20 and grab 10 rebounds, but that won't be every night. The coaches need to know what they can count on you contributing on a consistent basis."
"For me and the feedback I've received from fans and players alike was my work ethic, that I went out every night and played the game hard. That's not hard to do if you love a sport and are passionate about it, and I don't think that passion lies as deep with players of today. With the huge $100 million multi-year contracts of today a lot of players just stop trying. They stop doing what they did to earn the money due to the guaranteed pay and they become complacent at times."
As for his stay in Puerto Vallarta and the Sheraton, Jerome responded quickly, "I feel right at home actually. Gemma Garciarce has made it very, very inviting for me and everyone who stays here. It just feels like a home away from home; we come down here and it's relaxing, we get to have some fun playing basketball, meet a lot of great people. We get to take in a different culture while relaxing; I like it."
My initial perception of Jerome Kersey when we first met was, Wow! Jerome Kersey, ex-basketball star, I watched him play on TV all the time! As I got to know Jerome a bit better, I found him to be a personable, caring, and friendly guy.
"Basketball is not what I am, it's what I did. It doesn't define me as a person because that's on the court. I think what you do off the court. It's how you are with people that defines you," Jerome commented.
When I asked what Kersey's present and future plans are, he quickly responded, "My present job is by far my daughter. This year, fortunately, afforded me the time to follow her young basketball career. Losing my job with the Milwaukee Bucks last season left me with a guaranteed salary this season, so I get to follow my daughter around and watch her grow as a person and a basketball player." Jerome's daughter is 11 year old Kiara Kersey, who stands 5-6 and plays AAU organized basketball for the Oregon Rain.
Not one to sit still, Kersey just started a sports management company based out of Portland, Oregon. Called Premiere Sports, Inc., the company plans to represent basketball, football and baseball players. And though it is still in its initial stages, positive things are already beginning to happen for the people who have come to Kersey for his services.
Alejandra Toca, who is in charge of Special Projects at the Sheraton, sat in on the interview. Alejandra asked Kersey if, when behind the scenes, it is easy for him to make friends with people, or if he considers everything as just another competition.
He replied, "Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and I were together for about ten years and were all starters. Buck Williams and Kevin Duckworth were others that played with me for a long time and we all continue to be friends. Due to the amount of time we spent together, we got to know each other intimately and we have actually become family. In reality we spent more time together than we did with our own families."
"Over the years, I made friends with many players on other teams, as I did play pro basketball for 17 years... and some of the friendships you develop just because you're getting older," he added with a chuckle.
Alejandra went on to ask what the best moment he remembers was, or did any particular game actually define him. "Playing in Phoenix in a playoff game, when we went to the finals that first year, Jeff Hornacek was going to the basket late in a tie game, and I blocked his shot on one end and the ball bounced out (it happened like a flash) and I ran down the floor and got the lay-up on the other end to give us the victory. I can see it in my mind right now and it happened to quick with all my adrenaline flowing, the action of the game and it was like 'Wow'; a very memorable play because it put us in the championship for the first time," he replied.
Alejandra's final question to Jerome was how he found the Mexican competition compared to the level he played at. Jerome responded, "You can't define that, the NBA is the pinnacle of all basketball. The guys here are good players, not at all bad, but there is no Michael Jordan, no Larry Bird. But it is competitive and on any given day you can be beat, as the Mexican team showed us last year."
"Also, basketball in the United States is on the same popularity level as soccer is here in Mexico, anyone can afford to play and there are no economic barriers blocking you. In other sports, lessons and training can be quite expensive, but in basketball and soccer, all one needs is a ball and something to toss it into, or something to kick it through," he added.
We all appreciate Jerome Kersey's participation in the Annual Puerto Vallarta Sports Classic each year, and look forward to his continued involvement. With philosophies such as Jerome's, it makes one think that the world just might be a better place if run by athletes - or even better, more matured ex-athletes rather than politicians. As always, it is always wonderful to make new friends. Thanks Jerome!
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