Maurice Lucas, the basketball great who was hailed by fans as ‘The Enforcer’, has passed away. The 58-year-old succumbed after a protracted battle with bladder cancer.

The Portland Trailblazer fans will fondly remember their favourite as the man who in 1977 led the Trailblazers to the NBA title.
CBS news reported that Lucas is survived by Pamela, his wife, two sons named David and Maurice II and his daughter Kristin. No funeral arrangements have been announced so far.

Owner of Portland Trailblazers Paul Allen said that Maurice Lucas had enriched the lives of team-mates,fans and coaches alike, and that he was “an amazing man”. Allen said that he felt that he was lucky to have known the basketball great personally.

Maurice Lucas was part of the champion team, and recently worked with the Portland Trailblazers as an assistant coach.

Nate McMillan, the coach of Portland Trailblazers said in a statement to the media that he rued the loss of a warrior who battled it out on the basketball court, just as he did off-court with his bid to defeat disease, but cancer claimed the enforcer in the end. Nate McMillan hailed Maurice Lucas as ‘ a champion of a man’ and saluted his spirit.

Maurice Lucas had said in an interview in 2009 that he was “learning patience”. Even as wanted to recover quickly and go back to coaching duties with his beloved team, he had to be patient with his body, and make peace with a recuperation bid he had no control over.

Image Credit: