Maurice Lucas

The Enforcer who powered Portland to its first NBA title

Maurice "Luke" Lucas (February 18, 1952 – October 31, 2010) was an American professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a four-time NBA All-Star and won an NBA championship with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. He was named to the ABA All-Time Team.

Quick Facts

Born: 18 February 1952
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: 31 October 2010
Place of death: Tigard, Oregon, U.S.
High school: Schenley (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
College: Marquette (1972–1974)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 14

Lore & Background

Lucas played college basketball for the Marquette Warriors. He began his pro career with two years in the ABA with the Spirits of St. Louis and Kentucky Colonels. He then played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knickerbockers, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Seattle SuperSonics. The starting power forward on the Trail Blazers' 1976–77 championship team, he was nicknamed "the Enforcer" because of his primary role on the court, which was best exemplified in Game 2 of the NBA Finals that season. During his career, he organized celebrity sporting events to raise awareness and money for children's care at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, where his daughter was treated as an infant. Established in 2010, the Maurice Lucas Foundation in Tigard, Oregon, continues his legacy of supporting children's health and youth programs.

Reader's Guide

College: Lucas played college basketball for head coach Al McGuire with the then-Marquette Warriors for two years, leading them to the NCAA championship game in 1974. In the national semifinal game, Lucas led Marquette to a 64–51 victory over Kansas with game leading totals of 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Marquette lost the title game to North Carolina State 76–64, while Lucas played the full 40 minutes of the game, leading his team with both 21 points and 13 rebounds. ABA: In 1973, the Carolina Cougars of the ABA obtained the rights to Lucas in the first round of the ABA draft. In 1974, Lucas was also selected by the Chicago Bulls of the NBA with the 14th overall pick of the NBA draft. Lucas chose the ABA over the NBA, joining the Spirits of St. Louis. He started his career off the bench but soon developed into a tough power forward. During his first season, Lucas averaged 13.2 points per game and 10 rebounds per game, and was chosen for the 1974–75 ABA All-Rookie second team. On December 17, 1975, Lucas was traded to the Kentucky Colonels in exchange for Caldwell Jones. Lucas was an ABA All-Star for the 1975–76 season, and averaged 17.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. NBA: After the ABA–NBA merger, Lucas was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the subsequent ABA Dispersal Draft. In the 1976–77 NBA season, Lucas led the Trail Blazers in scoring, minutes played, field goals, free throws, and offensive rebounds. Lucas and teammate Bill Walton led the Trail Blazers past the Los Angeles Lakers 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals, and a 4–2 upset victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1977 NBA Finals. In that NBA Finals series, Lucas asserted his "enforcer" role in Game 2. He remained with Portland until 1980 when he was traded to the New Jersey Nets. After a year with the Nets, Lucas was traded to the New York Knicks. In 1982, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns. Lucas signed with the Los Angeles Lakers following the 1985 season. After the Lakers lost the 1986 Western Conference Finals, Lucas moved to the Seattle SuperSonics for one year, before returning to the Trail Blazers for his final NBA season in 1988. In his fourteen-year professional basketball career – two in the ABA and 12 in the NBA – Lucas scored 14,857 points and gathered 9,306 rebounds in 1021 games. He was a five-time All-Star – one in the ABA and four in the NBA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Maurice Lucas with the Trail Blazers?

He served as the starting power forward during Portland's historic 1976–77 championship season. Nicknamed "the Enforcer," he led the team in scoring and minutes played while anchoring the frontcourt.

What jersey number did Maurice Lucas wear?

He wore number 20 during his primary stint from 1976 to 1980 and again for a final season in 1988. The franchise officially retired this number on November 4, 1988, to honor his contributions.

What happened when Maurice Lucas returned to Portland?

He came back for one last season in 1988, which coincided with the franchise retiring his jersey number. This event cemented his legacy before he concluded his playing career with the organization.