Marquette great Maurice Lucas, the Enforcer - dead at 58
Written by: noreply@blogger.com (muwarrior92)
UPDATED
Maurice Lucas (http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/maurice_lucas), one of the greatest Warriors ever to play basketball at Marquette University, died Sunday at the age of 58 after a long battle with cancer.
Lucas played for Marquette for two seasons, 1972-73 and 1973-74, helping the Warriors to their first NCAA championship game appearance in 1974. The Warriors lost to North Carolina State that year, and Lucas left to play professionally in the ABA with the Spirits of St. Louis.
In 1977, he helped lead the Portland Trailblazers to the NBA championship by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers. In that series, Lucas' role as enforcer was center stage for all to see, as he and Darryl Dawkins were involved in a major bench clearing ball. Lucas refused to back down to Dawkins or the Sixers, instilling the team with the courage needed to take home the title.
Lucas was a four-time NBA All-Star and was named as one of the top 30 players in ABA history. Bill Walton later stated that Maurice Lucas was the GREATEST PORTLAND TRAILBLAZER who ever lived. He named his son, Luke Walton, after Lucas.
Maurice Lucas is remembered in many publications today --
NY Times....Maurice Lucas, Bruising Forward dies at 58 (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/sports/basketball/01lucas.html?src=twrhp)
CBS Sports....Video of the brawl from 1977 NBA Finals (http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/25603846)
Oregon Live....some great insights into Lucas (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/10/trail_blazers_legend_maurice_l.html)
Nate McMillan remembers Maurice Lucas (http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2010/10/remembering_trail_blazers_lege.html)
NBA.com remembers Maurice Lucas (http://www.nba.com/2010/news/10/31/lucas_maurice_obit.ap/)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Maurice Lucas (http://dev.www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/106424113.html)
Charlie Pierce provides a unique perspective into Lucas (http://www.boston.com/sports/columnists/pierce/2010/11/rip_maurice_lucas.html)
The Oregonian says, Maurice Lucas will be missed, but his legacy will endure (http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2010/10/canzano_maurice_lucas_will_be.html).
Pro statistics (http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lucasma01.html)
http://www.youtube.com/v/XjSa1Np5ab0?fs=1&hl=en_US
updated: Pierce article; Oregonian article
http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2010/11/marquette-great-maurice-lucas-enforcer.html
I remember seeing Maurice Lucas playing in a freshman game at MU, before the varsity. Sure was a long time ago. Man among boys then. Also, got to see the game winning shot as we beat Wisconsin and McGuire danced on the scorers table. Wisconsin had a good team with height. Thanks "Mo" for some great memories.