"Greatest teammate I ever had"

[Windyplayer]

During the Oregon-Stanford game tonight, a strong finish by Josh Huestis, junior power forward for Stanford, prompted this dialogue between Brent Musberger and Bill Walton (the game was televised on ESPNU)...

Walton: I love that pass over the top when you just cut down the lane and draw all the defenders and just throw it up on the glass and your power forward a la Maurice Lucas of Marquette University comes in and just throws it down.

Musberger: For you folks that don't remember Maurice Lucas, he was Bill Walton's body guard. Let me tell you, he was one of the toughest power forwards I ever watched in the NBA.

Walton: Greatest teammate I ever had.

Maurice Lucas was before my time, but to hear Bill Walton say with utmost confidence that he was the best teammate he ever had is something that I'll always remember. Furthermore, both Walton and Musberger were praising Lucas' toughness during the 1976-77 NBA season in which the Portland Trailblazers--led by Walton and Lucas--shocked the basketball world by winning it all (Not transcribed above because the DVR cut out for this portion of the conversation). Sounds like I really missed out on seeing him play. Something tells me his toughness put the current Big East's reputation to shame.

[JoeSmith1721]

Bill actually named his son, Luke, after Maurice.

[romey]

I witnessed him while at MU - pop's season tickets.  As a kid in MKE that was a HUGE!  If this blog was around then, Mo would have had five times the number of pages as Treveor Mbawe did a few years back  

Oh, and he was the subject of a Sports Illustrated article on "NBA Enforcers" that also included Calvin Murphy and Kermit Washington among others.

[Goose]

Man against boys. Plus had great style. A joy to watch both MU and NBA.

[TheTulsaWarrior]

During the 1974 NCAA Tittle game you could just see him willing the team to comeback.  A give me the ball and I'll get it done look.  With a little more help he would have gotten it done that night.

[MU82]

Mo Lucas = absolute stud.

He's one of many guys who played before today's MU students were born that I think of whenever somebody starts an "is so-and-so our best ever" conversation.

In the 70s, Marquette had some true All-American superstars, guys who today's young Scoopers would swoon over. Aside from Wade, nobody I've seen in the last 30 years would make either my first-team or second-team Marquette all-time great squads. (Novak might if there were a "specialist" category ... though I wonder how many treys Earl Tatum would have made!)

[akmarq]

I thought for sure this would have been posted already: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s&noredirect=1

That boxing technique...

[Goose]

After watching that fight again, he was a man amongst men. He was bigger than life and today's younger fans would have loved him and Earl Tatum and the boys a great deal.

[Windyplayer]

I thought for sure this would have been posted already: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s&noredirect=1

That boxing technique...

Wow. I like how the refs back then treated it as a hockey fight and backed away when the players raised fists (I can't blame them). It was certainly a different game back then.

[4everwarriors]

An eye witness should retell the story of Luke holdin' some hairy wet cat out a McCormick window by his ankles.

[PickNRoll]

When I lived in McCormick (75-76) that story was well known and had acquired mythical status but I don't know the details.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

An eye witness should retell the story of Luke holdin' some hairy wet cat out a McCormick window by his ankles.

So that's how you got to know those guys.

[Avenue Commons]

Best Marquette-bred NBA player other than #3 on the Miami Heat.

[TallTitan34]

Anyone else think Steve Taylor looks like Maurice Lucas without the hair?

[4everwarriors]

Anyone else think Steve Taylor looks like Maurice Lucas without the hair?

Looks mean nothin'. Wanna compare their games?

[Goose]

I am Taylor but not even in team photo with Luke. He walked onto campus as a stud and played like one everyday he was here.

[jsglow]

Mo Lucas = absolute stud.

He's one of many guys who played before today's MU students were born that I think of whenever somebody starts an "is so-and-so our best ever" conversation.

In the 70s, Marquette had some true All-American superstars, guys who today's young Scoopers would swoon over. Aside from Wade, nobody I've seen in the last 30 years would make either my first-team or second-team Marquette all-time great squads. (Novak might if there were a "specialist" category ... though I wonder how many treys Earl Tatum would have made!)

+1.  And that's not to say anything bad about our players from the last decade.  But several of those dudes were simply incredible.  Not to quibble but 1-2 of our recent players in addition to #3 would make my Top 10-15 all time list starting with Jae. 

Of course all credit goes to Coach Al for quietly insisting that a young man's character was not influenced by the color of his skin.

[leever]

I thought for sure this would have been posted already: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s&noredirect=1

That boxing technique...

I think that if they had allowed that fight to go on, Mo would have killed or seriously injured Dawkins.  On the other hand, Lucas always looked like he was ready to kill someone.  Scary guy.  For sure one of the best ever at MU.

[keefe]

I am Taylor but not even in team photo with Luke. He walked onto campus as a stud and played like one everyday he was here.

I believe Luke was a Dapper Dan Roundball Dude. That used to mean something.

[Goose]

Luke was a Dapper Dan and it did mean something.

[keefe]

Luke was a Dapper Dan and it did mean something.

So was Ulice Payne.

[Blackhat]

[Fullodds]

I met Mo with my then 8 yr old son.  Great guy.  When my son went to take his signed ball back, Lucas held it tight and my son tried to pull it from his hands...I don't think two people could have taken the ball away from him.  Great guy and underrated pro.

[Dawson Rental]

Luke was a Dapper Dan and it did mean something.

McDonald's All-American game of its time.

[Warrior]

He does look like Taylor.

[Marqevans]

I remember Luke walking into the Gym bar after he had decided to leave for the pros.  Somebody played "Be true to your school" on the juke box and Luke walked out.  Recently read where Luke tried to reverse his decision but the NCAA wouldn't let him.  Unlike with Jim Chones, Al didn't think Luke was ready for the pros.  boy was he wrong!

[MU82]

I remember Luke walking into the Gym bar after he had decided to leave for the pros.  Somebody played "Be true to your school" on the juke box and Luke walked out.  Recently read where Luke tried to reverse his decision but the NCAA wouldn't let him.  Unlike with Jim Chones, Al didn't think Luke was ready for the pros.  boy was he wrong!

Lucas went to the ABA and tore things up there before coming to the NBA and excelling.

[keefe]

He does look like Taylor.

Correction: Taylor looks like Luke.

[keefe]

Best Marquette-bred NBA player other than #3 on the Miami Heat.

Luke defined the prototypical modern 4. He had a long, productive career. I would argue that Thompson was a much more dominant pro player though for a shorter period of time. Make no mistake - If Al didn't sign Brute Force out of Erasmus HS there might not have been a Maurice Lucas at Marquette. The Destroyer put Marquette and Al on the map and he has actively contributed to the program for more than 30 years. Adolph Rupp wouldn't give him the time of day but leaders from all walks of life have since singled him out for praise. I am amazed at how little mention Thompson gets in discussions on these pages. He dominated at every level - NYC hoops, Marquette, and the pros. He could have played longer but he took Al's advice, "Use basketball, don't let it use you." He therefore jumped at an offer from Briggs & Stratton to enter the corporate world when he was with the Bucks and never looked back. Thompson was the most important figure in MU hoops for many reasons and his contributions continue through today.

[emort]

WHAT a stud!!
They used to have a game of horse as halftime entertainment on the NBA games. Bracketed, tournament style. Mo was up against Calvin Murphy, a tough, hot shooting, small (5'9") guard with Houston. The backboards back then had 4 posts coming up to each corner, the game down to Mo taking the last shot. He jumped grabbed one of the lower corner posts and dunked the ball. Calvin retrieved the ball, smiled and handed it to Mo.
Very entertaining.

Also a great clip of the NBA Finals v. 76ers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e3C-LQWF2s

[LloydMooresLegs]

God I love that uni.

[brandx]

After watching that fight again, he was a man amongst men. He was bigger than life and today's younger fans would have loved him and Earl Tatum and the boys a great deal.

Must be about the same age - they would both rate among my top 5 all-time.

Noticed someone else made a Steve Taylor comparison. I've said that before as well. Mo might have had an inch on steve, but with a year or two in the weight room, they will have very similar bodies. Don't know if he (or anyone else) can match Mo's toughness tho'.

He was a MAN!!

[77ncaachamps]

If I ever saw him walking down a street, I would jump to the other side especially if I didn't know him.

Huge. Imposing. Built.

But he do great things with his Foundation and for MU and the NBA.

RIP, big man.

[4everwarriors]

Luke was a gentle giant off the court. During my "Individual and Dual Sports" class, Luke was a member of my 4 man bowling team along with Sugar. It was a riot as neither had any bowling experience to speak of.

[Marqevans]

Luke was a gentle giant off the court. During my "Individual and Dual Sports" class, Luke was a member of my 4 man bowling team along with Sugar. It was a riot as neither had any bowling experience to speak of.

Did he break any pins?

[MU82]

Must be about the same age - they would both rate among my top 5 all-time.

Noticed someone else made a Steve Taylor comparison. I've said that before as well. Mo might have had an inch on steve, but with a year or two in the weight room, they will have very similar bodies. Don't know if he (or anyone else) can match Mo's toughness tho'.

He was a MAN!!

Great thought, but Taylor is light years away from being anything like Lucas. Many, many light years. At his core, Taylor is a 3 while Lucas was the protypical 4, arguably one of the best in basketball history.

[keefe]

Great thought, but Taylor is light years away from being anything like Lucas. Many, many light years. At his core, Taylor is a 3 while Lucas was the protypical 4, arguably one of the best in basketball history.

He defined the modern PF. SI had a great shot of him in a Portland Alley in a denim outfit, arms crossed across his chest, glaring at the camera. The article called him the nastiest Sonofabitch in pro sports. I would not disagree.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8561/index.htm


Scroll down to this guy's Dec 27, 2010 entry. He has included Luke's Obit that has the photo I mention

http://williamt777.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

[BCHoopster]

two biggest shots in MU history:

1}  Jerome's shot against  NC Charlotte

2)  Turnaround J to beat Wisco with Al jumping on the scorers table and the Hughes Twin father giving Al the finger!

[Bocephys]

He defined the modern PF. SI had a great shot of him in a Portland Alley in a denim outfit, arms crossed across his chest, glaring at the camera. The article called him the nastiest Sonofabitch in pro sports. I would not disagree.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/8561/index.htm


Scroll down to this guy's Dec 27, 2010 entry. He has included Luke's Obit that has the photo I mention

http://williamt777.blogspot.com/2010_12_01_archive.html

[MU82]

two biggest shots in MU history:

1}  Jerome's shot against  NC Charlotte

2)  Turnaround J to beat Wisco with Al jumping on the scorers table and the Hughes Twin father giving Al the finger!

Not in the same league as Whitehead's shot because it wasn't in the Final Four, but beyond that, I'm rather partial to Rivers' halfcourt shot against ND. Probably my favorite memory from any MU game I personally attended.

[Goose]

Doc's shot was awesome but I put Luke's buzzer beater over UW ahead of it. No doubt the Doc shot was heard around Milwaukee that day. I was old enough to drink for that one and it was long afternoon and night.

[emort]

I remember Luke walking into the Gym bar after he had decided to leave for the pros.  Somebody played "Be true to your school" on the juke box and Luke walked out.  Recently read where Luke tried to reverse his decision but the NCAA wouldn't let him.  Unlike with Jim Chones, Al didn't think Luke was ready for the pros.  boy was he wrong!

Maybe it was urban legend but I remember the story that went was that Lucas told Al McGuire he would never play for him again after Al got the two technical fouls that lead to them losing vs. NC State in the title game in '74.

[keefe]

Maybe it was urban legend but I remember the story that went was that Lucas told Al McGuire he would never play for him again after Al got the two technical fouls that lead to them losing vs. NC State in the title game in '74.

Urban BS is more like it. Luke was always close with Al for years after he left MU.

That NCSU team was incredible...Thompson, Towe, Burleson, Rivers. Stoddard, Spence.

That Marquette team was, too: Luke, Bo, Marcus, Lucky Lloyd, The Black Jerry West, Homan.

Al's 2 T's were bone headed but I wouldn't discount the fact that NCSU was tough. Of all the players on the court that night the best by far was David Thompson.