Maurice Lucas was one of the greatest trail Blazers ever big number when he was known as the enforcer. Big -- he helped the Blazers win the NBA title in 1977. -- they passed away he was 58. Due to complications from bladder cancer his coach. The Portland trailblazers now announcer at ESPN doctor Jack Ramsay joining us on the digital communications smarter play outlined. -- we know about -- Lucas that the player but I just can't get. Can't get over how many people I talk to that knew him so well off the court and how much they rave. About Murray said doctor Jack what was it about him that made people are so complimentary of this guy away from the game basketball. He wore his eight caring loving. Generous. Person. And I think Beck came through in all his relationship. The like to help people he'd like to be involved. It other people and and their problems. And solutions. He was it just agreed or around human being. -- it's it's weird 'cause he has this this exterior of just this toughness in the you know everyone talks about their their hands in the in the punch and what that meant the organization but. A week in the court. You couldn't have met a nicer get our guys. Send your rapid rate on target. He was. As they -- -- Caring person. He. He loved and that blazer -- And older members of ended so much to keep that team together. After -- that factor and after. Just about everybody and been treated to other teams. And he kept that thread to allow you with those players on the championship team and kept us together as a group. -- don't there was a tremendous amount of love and respect. Among the players and coaches who that team in Duke had much to do with the. -- with the doctor Jack Ramsay here on 1080 the fan. So how did -- actually end up here I know he was whose plane. In in Kentucky BA BA played for Hugh B brown and then from what I gathered -- you can shed some light on this. Atlanta drafted him in the NBA they also hired Hugh B brown and I don't know if you wanna play for he be -- when other teams realize that maybe he wasn't gonna go to Atlanta in the Blazers were able to acquire him. Well. QB. Played for a Kentucky First. And then. Leader scorer saint Louis the Saint Louis spear who -- been even in the he'd be yet. But QB than. Luke didn't see -- to lie on a lot of things so. Since QB was the coach at Atlanta. After the eight BA teams folded. It was apparent. Luke was a -- So we the Blazers. Stu Inman in particular. Engineered a trade with Atlanta. Forward -- stick in the dispersal draft. And gave up Geoff Petrie and the callers in order to do that. So we acquired. -- -- Portland in my first year there as a result of that. In the and the rest is sort of history meet you talked about the cohesiveness of that of that championship team and then moving on in years after the US had a lot of new guys mean seven or eight new guys -- a year you're relatively new. And how did it all come together so that championship team. Well it came together because. The park. And of the players that. -- started out that season. I think. Eight were new. The only holdovers where. Bill Walton. Arsenal Holland. Bob groups. Larry Steele and Lloyd Neal. And everybody else was new. So among the new players was Maurice Lucas -- -- who also came from an eight BA background but the Blazers had. And drafted him originally so he was. Considered their property. When BA BA for older but I acquired term -- in and Corky Calhoun. Through tree. And Robin Jones was a free agent and position. So there are a lot of new players but I could tell in training camp that this could be a special paint. Just by the way they played together and the willingness to work hard and work our -- a different kind of team. And so it came together quickly read we were good right away. And based on the home court we had a hard time on the road at first but we eventually. Got past that too. What in -- Lucas mean that team. He was the physical Spears of that change. He has had an incident in the NBA where he had not. Artis Gilmore to the floor with one punch. And that news spread like wild applies not only through BA BA but an NBA as well because artists. Was considered the strongest man in basketball at that time. So in Luke had gotten into rather than. -- got the one punch and made it count. And that that. Says his reputation. When before the NBA seasons started. I had a meeting with the united -- you have this reputation. Outlets that continue. I'd like -- be that kind of player for the Blazers. Where you can be a the intimidating sort of player. Because the team needed that they didn't have anybody of of that nature on the roster. And -- is only too happy to apply. Doctor Jack Ramsay is our guest here on the -- Corso Maurice Lucas yesterday if you haven't heard died. -- the age of 58 now you you mention. We hit you know that was kind of the evolution of the enforcer how much of it was the fact that Bill Walton. You know obviously people knew of his injuries and he needed to keep that guy healthy he was the guy in you you talk to -- about comedy and making sure nobody you know took some jabs -- some cheap shots. At the big guy in the middle. Well into -- on his government knew right away. And the value Bill Walton. And but he would he have everybody's back. That is you have a problem with any of the blazer players. Luke was over these. In there to intervene. So bill bill lose highly skilled player of course. He was not an enforcer type. He was more of -- in this kind of player. Amazingly. Skilled. But not the physical tight will look. The -- that bill. And enjoyed it so we took it on himself to be. Kind of the the bodyguard for everybody on that change. You of the dust up between him in in in Dawkins in the in the finals there has become the stuff of legends in and we do the call is is unbelievable 'cause it's eating you can't get that until he's -- you know. A guy thrown a punch and and you know being back the next game but what. What did that do we hear that that turned the series around the what do from a coaching standpoint what did that do you guys going forward. Well we had played two lackluster games that that happened in game two. And was near the end of the game. And Darryl Dawkins. Had. Taken offenses something that Bob gross had done. And some might. Don't remember just what it was with a group stole the ball prone and not so Dawkins confronted gross and actually took a swing and groups. Well gross being has nimble and as well as athletic as he was he just got the blow. And unfortunately for Doug Collins. The teammate Darryl Dawkins he was standing behind grows and he took the punch and it's split his -- So a -- that into the fire by laughing in fact our bench people were. Couldn't hide there amusement and all this the right in front of us took the bench. So. That started talking started stomping and ranting around and that's when -- came up. And got a side arm right hander that it Dawkins on the side of the head. But there were no no problem don't know blows further blows were struck fair I think. It just set the tone. You know we -- happy with the way we played in we weren't gonna do. Stand around and be bullied certainly by. The player like Darryl Dawkins. To keep things happen before game history when Luke went out on introductions and -- Dawkins and to Dawkins amazement and the coliseum. -- Were or vocal to begin that they just erupted. I think that. Trio these set the tone for of the two games in Portland which we want to handle it. Former Blazers coach said Jack Ramsay now when you think back to all of your interactions with Maurice Lucas weather beat. You know we we always like to reminisce about that the title year. After that even in recent years when you saw him on what specific interactions with him over the years standout -- more than others the most memorable. Just -- care -- and or earned his teammate. Luke was I'm happy with his contract in Portland. The whole time he was there. He would just signed a contract. But. After he signed it he found. Other players were were making considerably more than he was. Acting including. Just and George mcginnis. And -- knew he was much better player than George mcginnis and George mcginnis was making more money then looked. So -- was was basically I'm happy with that the whole time he was in Portland. But he -- that submerged during the championship in the following season but it was always simmering under the surface. So. Know that and that eventually led to his being treated. But later years. It came about. In context that I have that I within. Beloved fifty cent for that team in the championship team and the team next year this article the seasons so well. That team and its members just shone through. And it it indicated to me was what do caring and kind eighteen players he works under that circus. Physical bravado. Yeah well doctor -- we appreciate to carving out a few minutes talked to us about it today and we will look at to begin down the -- thank you very much.
