[REMOVE ADS]




Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    43,221
    Rep Power
    600

    RIP Maurice Lucas [[1952-2010)

    Maurice Lucas | Visit Guest Book
    Enlarged Photo PORTLAND, Ore. [[AP) - Maurice Lucas, the fierce power forward known as "The Enforcer" who helped lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title, has died after a long fight with bladder cancer. He was 58.

    Lucas died Sunday at his home in Portland, the team said.

    Lucas, whose No. 20 was retired by the Blazers in 1988, joined Portland in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft and led the 1976-77 championship team in scoring with a 20.2 average. He also averaged 11.2 rebounds that season.

    At public appearances, fans often greeted Lucas with cries of "Luuuuuuke!" His competitive demeanor on the court was in contrast to his gentle nature off it.

    He served as an assistant coach with the Blazers for six seasons, but last year he left the team to undergo surgery before suffering a setback last November. He did not return to coaching this season.

    The former Marquette player averaged 14.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in 12 NBA seasons with Portlan d, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle. In two seasons in the ABA with St. Louis and Kentucky, he averaged 15.2 points and 10.8 rebounds.

    He was a five-time All-Star.

    Prior to last season an interview with Lucas was posted on the Trail Blazers' official website, covering topics including his health, his work with center Greg Oden and the team's 40th anniversary.

    "The one thing that I'm finding is an issue for me is learning patience, being patient with myself. I'm trying to understand what this process is all about. It takes a little longer amount of time than I'd like it to take in order to recover," Lucas said. "But it is what it is and I'm not in charge of it. I've just got to play my role, be patient, feed myself well, take the right meds and see if I can get back on track."

    Lucas led Marquette to the 1974 NCAA title game against North Carolina State and was selected to the All-Final Four team along with future Portlan d teammate Bill Walton. The 6-foot-9 former Pittsburgh high school star averaged 15.8 points and 10.6 rebounds as a junior that season.

    Marquette also retired his No. 20 and inducted him into its Hall of Fame, and Walton named his son Luke, a player for the Lakers, after him.

    "I hadn't seen him as much lately, but he and my dad still talked all the time," Luke Walton said. "From what I heard, he had been in some pain for a while. It's tough. He's a great guy."

    The Trail Blazers were in the midst of a four-game trip, with a game against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

    Lucas is survived by wife Pamela, sons David and Maurice II and daughter Kristin.



    Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    2,083
    Rep Power
    195
    Bill Walton thought so highly of Lucas, he named his son after him [[Luke). RIP.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    1,127
    Rep Power
    184
    The Cavaliers could've had him in 1982...we had Ted Stepien as an owner then, a guy who knew absolutely nothing about basketball, and then-coach Bill Musselman called Ted and said he had a chance to get Luke. Stepien told Musselman to hold on, then asked if anyone knew anything about Lucas. Someone said, "He's too old", and Stepien returned to the call saying, "Sorry, Bill, he's too old!". At that time, Lucas was only 29 and would play for several more years!!

    Another great story that was mentioned in Terry Pluto's great book about the ABA, "Loose Balls": during the 1975 ABA season, there was a referee strike and scab refs filled in for the real guys. One of them was about to call a foul on Lucas, who grabbed the ref's whistle as he was about to blow it and said 'You don't want to do that'. The scared ref called a technical on him...of course, with the regular refs, intimidating one like that could result in a suspension and maybe more.

    He was one helluva player...RIP, Luke, and thank you...

    Best,

    Mark

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

[REMOVE ADS]

Ralph Terrana
MODERATOR

Welcome to Soulful Detroit! Kindly Consider Turning Off Your Ad BlockingX
Soulful Detroit is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. We notice that you are using an ad-blocking program that prevents us from earning revenue during your visit.
Ads are REMOVED for Members who donate to Soulful Detroit. [You must be logged in for ads to disappear]
DONATE HERE »
And have Ads removed.