April 2, 2009
Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Maurice Lucas underwent successful bladder cancer surgery on Tuesday, the Trail Blazers announced today. Doctors anticipate a recovery period of 6-to-8 weeks. Lucas will not return to the bench for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.
"I'm disappointed that I will be missing this stretch run," Lucas said. "I am so proud of how our guys have played and I'm confident that I will spend a good deal of my recovery time watching us win games."
A 14-year NBA/ABA veteran and four-time All-Star, Lucas was a starting forward on the Trail Blazers 1977 NBA Championship team.
"Luke was in great spirits when I visited him yesterday," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said. "His biggest complaint was that I didn't bring a DVD so he could see Tuesday's win."
Lucas, 57, joined Head Coach Nate McMillan's staff in 2005.
"We are going to miss Luke, and will all be praying for his quick recovery," Head Coach Nate McMillan said. "Anybody who knows Maurice knows there isn't a tougher guy out there. We look forward to his return as soon as he is ready."
Trail Blazers fans who wish to send cards or letters to Coach Lucas, can do so care of the Portland Trail Blazers, One Center Court, Suite 200, Portland, OR 97227.
http://www.katu.com/news/42342672.html
Please keep this true Warrior in your thoughts, and/or send him some cheers!
Get well soon, Mo! :)
Just sent the "warrior" a card and mentioned the entire board is hoping he gets well soon, and our prayers are with him and his family.
Definitely my favorite MU player of all time, he was a monster/beast and opposing players actually feared him. He backed down to no one and I am sure he will do the same with the illness.
Lucas is still the No. 1 NBA scorer of all-time among MU graduates, though Wade will catch him in a couple of years. My favorite account of him was in Derek Gentile's book, "Smooth Moves," page 129, after he ranks him as one of the 6 best tough men to ever play in the NBA:
"Maurice Lucas (1974-88): In Portland, when Maurice Lucas would rip down a tough rebound, or set one of his trademark teeth-rattling picks, Trail Blazers fans would shout, 'Luke, Luke, Luke,' until the chant would eventually morph into one long, 'Luuuuuuuuuuuuuke.' There are many observers who believe that Lucas, not center Bill Walton, was the key player in the Blazers' 1977 championship. Maybe so. It would have been hard to imagine Portland winning it without him."
My friends thought Dawkins was the baddest man on the planet until Lucas decked him.
Get better big guy!
NYG---He is one of my all time favorites as well. I remember in '74 after the banquet seeing Luke outside wearing the classiest suit and derby. He was slick back then and one guy I loved to watch. He was a man when others were boys in college. Him turning pro made even cooler to me.