John Lucas II
From University of Maryland All-American to NBA coach and former first overall pick.
John Lucas II is an American professional basketball coach and former player whose career spans decades of high-level competition. Born on October 31, 1953, he most recently served as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. A standout at the University of Maryland, Lucas was an All-American in both basketball and tennis. His journey includes being the first overall pick in the 1976 NBA draft by the Rockets before playing fourteen years in the league. He is also recognized for his extensive coaching history with teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
- Role
- Player / Assistant Coach
- Primary Team Affiliation
- San Antonio Spurs
- College
- University of Maryland
- Draft Year
- 1976
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Lucas's collegiate career at the University of Maryland was defined by elite performance in two sports. He earned Second-team All-American honors in 1973–74 alongside teammates Len Elmore and Tom McMillen, leading the Terrapins to a 23–5 regular season record. The following year, he became a First-team All-American as Maryland won the ACC regular season crown with a 10–2 conference mark. Although they lost in the ACC tournament semifinals to NC State, the team gained entry to the expanded NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to Louisville. In 1975–76, Lucas repeated as a First-team All-American, though the team missed the NCAA Tournament after losing in the ACC Tournament.
In Their Own Story
Selected first overall by the Houston Rockets in 1976, Lucas's professional path took a sharp turn when Commissioner Larry O'Brien awarded him to the Golden State Warriors. There, he scored a career-best 35 points on October 20, 1978, in a win over the Trail Blazers. His tenure ended after missing practices and games, leading to suspension and non-renewal of his contract. After struggles with cocaine addiction that led to his release by the Washington Bullets in 1983, Lucas fought his way back. He played for the San Antonio Spurs before returning to Houston, where he was waived in March 1986 after failing two drug tests just as the team headed to the NBA Finals. A resurgence came with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1987, where at age 33 he averaged a career-high 17.5 points and scored a team-high 30 points to lead a victory over the Boston Celtics.
Reader's Guide
Lucas's coaching trajectory began after successful rehabilitation, leading him to buy the Miami Tropics in the United States Basketball League in 1991 to help players overcome drug problems, winning championships in 1992 and 1993. His most successful stint was with the Spurs, where he went 39–22 in his first season to reach the Western Conference semifinals. Later roles included assistant coaching for the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Houston Rockets. In July 2016, he joined the 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 with the US national team at the 1974 FIBA World Championship.
- In 2005, he served as head coach for the Houston Wranglers, which featured Steffi Graf and Mardy Fish.
- Lucas co-founded a wellness program helping athletes like Freeman Williams recover from substance abuse.