John Lucas II
A dual-sport All-American from Maryland who navigated a 14-year NBA career marked by high scoring peaks and rehabilitation journeys before becoming a head coach for the Spurs, Sixers, and Cavaliers.
John Harding Lucas II is an American professional basketball coach and former player born on October 31, 1953. He most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A dual-sport standout at the University of Maryland, College Park, he was named an All-American in both basketball and tennis. Lucas was selected first overall by the Houston Rockets in the 1976 NBA draft, though he also holds the distinction of being drafted by the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association.
- Draft Year
- 1976
- Pick Number
- 1st Overall
- College
- University of Maryland, College Park
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Lucas's collegiate tenure at Maryland defined his early legacy. In the 1973–74 season, he was named Second-team All-American alongside teammates Len Elmore and Tom McMillen on a Terrapins squad that went 23–5 in the regular season. The following year, 1974–75, saw Lucas elevated to First-team All-American as Maryland captured the ACC regular season crown with a 10–2 conference record. Despite losing in the ACC Tournament semifinals to NC State, the expanded NCAA field allowed them entry, where they advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to Louisville. He returned for a final standout year in 1975–76 as a First-team All-American again, leading Maryland to a 22–6 record and a 7–5 ACC mark, though another missed NCAA bid followed their loss in the ACC Tournament.
In Their Own Story
Lucas's professional journey was defined by dramatic highs and significant personal battles. Selected first overall by Houston in 1976, he moved to the Golden State Warriors as compensation for Rick Barry signing with the Rockets. There, on October 20, 1978, he scored a career-best 35 points in a 111–108 victory over the Trail Blazers. However, his time with Golden State ended after he missed practices and games, leading to suspension and a non-renewal of his contract option. After joining the Washington Bullets as a free agent, Lucas admitted to a cocaine addiction at the start of the 1982–83 season and entered rehabilitation before being waived in 1983. He returned to the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs and later Houston, where he became a regular starter in 1986 until failing two drug tests led to his waiver just before their run to the 1986 NBA Finals. A resurgence came in January 1987 when the Milwaukee Bucks signed him; at age 33, he averaged a career-high 17.5 points and scored a team-high 30 points on May 8, 1987, leading the Bucks to an Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 3 win over the Boston Celtics.
Reader's Guide
Beyond his playing days, Lucas established himself as a dedicated coach and advocate for recovery. He purchased the Miami Tropics of the United States Basketball League in 1991 specifically to help players overcome drug problems, serving as head coach to guide their counseling. Under his leadership, the team won championships in 1992 and 1993. His NBA coaching career included stints with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers, compiling a 174–258 record. His most successful run was with the Spurs; taking over from Jerry Tarkanian mid-season in 1992–93, he guided them to a 39–22 finish and a Western Conference semi-finals appearance, followed by a 55–27 regular season the next year. Prior to his head coaching roles, he served as an assistant for the Denver Nuggets for three seasons. In 2016, he joined the Houston Rockets as a player development coach before becoming an assistant under Stephen Silas in November 2020.
Did You Know?
- Lucas was an All-American in both basketball and tennis while at the University of Maryland.
- He won a bronze medal playing for the US national team in the 1974 FIBA World Championship.
- In 1978, he teamed up with Renée Richards as the regular mixed-doubles pair for the New Orleans Sun Belt Nets.
- Lucas scored a career-high 35 points for the Golden State Warriors on October 20, 1978.
- He coached the Houston Wranglers in 2005, featuring Steffi Graf and Mardy Fish.