Maurice Lucas (February 18, 1952 – October 31, 2010) was the prototype power forward of his day. Many Portland Trail Blazer fans remember him as “The Enforcer.” Lucas, who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game in his three and a half years with the Blazers, succeeded not only with intimidation but with excellent offensive skills and a soft shooting touch.
An outstanding player at Marquette University, Lucas left the school after his junior year to join the rival American Basketball Association (ABA). After the ABA folded in 1976, Portland was able to select Lucas in the dispersal draft with the second pick after trading Geoff Petrie and Steve Hawes to Atlanta. Lucas’ best NBA seasons were spent in Portland where he had three straight All-Star years and helped lead the Trail Blazers to their only NBA Championship.
During that glorious 1976-77 season, Lucas made his first trip to the NBA All-Star Game. He averaged 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds and, according to the New York Times, “2.3 welts across his opponent’s chests per game.” As former Blazer teammate Lionel Hollins said during a toast to Lucas: “To Luke, Basketball was a contact sport. All con and no tact. “
Lucas was the perfect counterpart to Bill Walton on the front line. The Blazers finished second in the Pacific Division and marched through the playoffs to meet the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Finals. After losing the first two games of the series, Lucas helped shut down 76er forward George McGinnis and intimidated Darryl Dawkins leading to the famous fight. Portland went on to become only the second team in NBA history to come back from a 2-0 deficit to win four straight games for the championship.
In Lucas’ next two seasons with Portland, he made the All-Star team and established himself as one of the best power forwards in the game by averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per game in 1978-79. Luke spent eight more seasons in the Association with the Nets, Knicks, Suns, Lakers and Sonics, then returned to Portland for one last season in 1988.
Lucas also excelled off the court, serving seven years as the NBA Players Association Vice President and receiving the NBA Spirit of Love Award for Community Involvement. Mo lived in Portland following his retirement and continued to work with the Blazers as an assistant coach and ambassador. The Trail Blazers retired his #20 and he has been named the All-time, All-ABA team.