Last Updated on April 18, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the detailed information about Maurice Lucas, a former NBA player and coach:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Maurice Lucas
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on February 18, 1952 (passed away on October 31, 2010, at the age of 58)
  • Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Weight: 215 pounds (98 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 10 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore jersey numbers 20, 22, and 25
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • College: Marquette University (1971–1974)
  • NBA Draft: Selected in the 1st round (14th overall pick) in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls (rights traded to the Portland Trail Blazers)
  • Teams Played For:
    • Spirits of St. Louis (ABA) (1974–1976)
    • Portland Trail Blazers (1976–1980, 1987–1988)
    • New Jersey Nets (1980–1981)
    • New York Knicks (1981)
    • Phoenix Suns (1982–1985)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1985–1986)
    • Seattle SuperSonics (1986–1987)
  • Championship Rings: 1 NBA Championship (1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers)
  • Kids: Maurice Lucas Jr., who also played college basketball
  • Siblings: Not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Maurice Lucas’s player archetype was that of an enforcer power forward: a rugged, high-motor frontcourt presence who set a physical tone, controlled the glass, and supplied tough interior scoring without needing an offense built entirely around him. At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, he brought legitimate size, strength, and edge to the position, pairing bruising rebounding and hard-nosed post play with the kind of defensive presence that earned him All-Defensive First Team and Second Team honors. Offensively, Lucas functioned mainly as a low-post scorer, cleanup finisher, and second-option forward who could punish defenders inside and produce efficiently in big moments, while defensively he operated as a combative interior stopper and tone-setter whose toughness became central to Portland’s identity during its 1977 title run. Overall, his play style blended physical rebounding, paint scoring, intimidation, and playoff-level competitiveness in a way that made him far more than just a fighter or energy player. (NBA)

Notes:

  • Similar players to Maurice Lucas include Dennis Rodman, Ron Artest, and Sam Perkins.

Sources:

NBA.com — Maurice Lucas | Forward | Portland Trail Blazers
Blazer’s Edge — Blazers: Maurice Lucas Passes Away
Blazer’s Edge — Trail Blazers Top 100: The Enforcer
Marquette University Athletics — Marquette M Club Hall of Fame