Steve "Snapper" Jones -- former ABA All-Star and friend to many -- has died, a source tells The Oregonian/OregonLive.

He was 75.

The former Portland Trail Blazer, Oregon Duck, and Franklin High basketball star was a well-known broadcaster who was an endearing personality. He led Franklin High to the state basketball championship in 1959, then attended the University of Oregon and led the Ducks in scoring (1963-64).

Jones earned all-star honors during eight seasons in the American Basketball Association where he averaged 16 points while scoring more than 10,000 points in his 640 games. He finished his professional playing career with the Trail Blazers in 1975-76.

His broadcasting career began after his playing career ended. Jones worked for CBS, and worked as the color commentator during the Blazers 1977 NBA Championship game for the network. He also worked as part of the Blazers broadcast crew and Blazers TV.

Jones also later worked for TBS, TNT, NBC and served as an analyst for The NBA on NBC. He also worked for NBA TV and was a broadcaster during the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. His on-air broadcast partners included Bill Walton, Pat Lafferty, Pete Pranica, Chick Hearn, Eddie Doucette and Mike Barrett, among others.

His greatest contributions, however, may have come as an ambassador to Blazers fans and a personality known around the country. His spirited on-air exchanges with Walton, in particular, were unforgettable.