The shiningest star

Fibr All-Stars coach John Lucas isn’t just a basketball expert and skills development specialist. He’s a life-changer. Lucas stands proudly as an example of a former drug and alcohol addict who turned his life around to prove there is hope for the hopeless.

Lucas flew in the other day with a band of pro basketball players for a two-day charity event with the Gilas national team. The program consists of drills, skills contests and games. “Mixing the two groups for skills and to help the national team get ready is what it’s all about,” said Lucas in his twitter account.

Lucas, 60, is familiar with the international game and no stranger to Philippine basketball. At the 1974 FIBA World Championships in Puerto Rico, Lucas played on the US squad that took the bronze medal with an 8-1 record. The Americans lost only to gold medalist Soviet Union, 105-94, but slid to third place behind runner-up Yugoslavia. One of the US’ wins was a 135-85 romp over the Philippines whose lineup consisted of Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Bogs Adornado, Yoyong Martirez, Manny Paner, Jimmy Mariano, Joy Cleofas, Tembong Melencio, Ramon Fernandez, Big Boy Reynoso, Abet Guidaben and Dave Regullano.

Against the Philippines, Lucas led the US in scoring with 30 points. The Big J shot 21 for the Philippines. Adornado tallied 13, Arnaiz 11 and Martirez, Paner and Fernandez nine each. Lucas’ teammates included future NBA players Luther (Ticky) Burden, Quinn Buckner, Joe Meriweather, Rich Kelley, Gus Gerard and Eugene Short. Lucas once piloted the Nigerian national squad so his familiarity with the international game is both as a player and coach.

Lucas starred in basketball and tennis at the University of Maryland from 1972 to 1976. He was the NBA’s first overall pick in the 1976 draft and played 14 pro seasons with Houston, Golden State, Washington, San Antonio, Milwaukee and Seattle. Lucas started and ended his NBA career with the Rockets.

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Houston basketball legend Rudy Tomjanovich, in his book “A Rocket At Heart,” described Lucas as a catalyst for enthusiasm. “Lucas was what they call a ‘true’ point guard,” said Tomjanovich. “He had a floor general’s mentality. Here was a guy who thought ‘pass’ first and we had plenty of shooters who knew how to finish once they received one of Luke’s set-up feeds. Mike Newlin, Calvin Murphy, John Johnson, Kevin Kunnert and I were all in that category. He was just what our team needed at the time, always talking and pumping up his teammates. On and off the court, he made us into a cohesive unit.”

While there was no doubt as to Lucas’ talent, he compromised his career with an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. Lucas submitted to the NBA’s voluntary rehab program and was repeatedly suspended after testing positive for drugs. But Lucas never gave up in straightening out his life. In 1984, he proved himself deserving of a job in the NBA by dishing out 24 assists, 14 in the second period, without scoring a single point to lead San Antonio to a 157-154 win over Denver. That season, Lucas averaged 10.9 points and 10.7 assists a game. It was one of eight seasons where Lucas averaged in double figure points.

Lucas retired from playing after the 1989-90 season at the age of 36, winding up his career with averages of 10.7 points, 7.0 assists and 1.4 steals. He went on to become a head coach with the Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers and an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Lucas learned from experience how to bounce back from the depths of depression and has dedicated himself to making a difference in other people’s lives. In 1990, he organized John Lucas Enterprises which is the vehicle to teach the “Lucas Way” in camps for pro, college, middle school, high school and elementary players. Lucas’ network is also connected with Right Step which is a drug and alcohol rehab center in Houston. Beyond basketball, Lucas teaches how to succeed in life.

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In the “Lucas Way,” he preaches the gospel of hard work, discipline and conviction. “The only way to get better at anything is to work hard to improve your weaknesses and perfect your strengths,” said Lucas who earned a Master’s degree in education at the University of San Francisco. “You have to put in the work. Your dreams aren’t just going to get you there. The players that make it never stop putting in the sweat equity. The great thing about basketball is that you cannot lie to the game because the game will always tell the truth. Too often, I have found in kids today that they want the hype, praise and respect that come from being a great player but they want and expect it to come with minimal work and time invested.”

Lucas has now been sober for nearly 30 years and it’s this transformation that is his inspiring message to the world. “Life is a bunch of start-overs,” he once said. “I’ve had to take four. I’ve told the kids that life is about moments and you can turn yourself around. What I thought was the worst possible deal in life turned out to be the best gift I’ve been given. My addiction carried me past my sports life. It gave me my best trophy. It gave me John Lucas. It gave me life.” Writer Damien Pierce said Lucas has turned around careers and saved lives but none as significant as his own.

Lucas has mentored high-profile stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Last year, he worked the Nike KD Skills Academy for selected high school and college players at the Sidwell Friends School Gym in Washington, D. C. Of the 19 college players in the academy, nine were picked in the recent NBA draft, including Jabari Parker, K. J. McDaniels, DeAndre Daniels, Markel Brown and Gary Harris. Lucas was assisted by former PBA imports Mike Morrison and Rick Brunson at the camp.

The shiningest star among the visitors isn’t a player. It’s Lucas.