NBA UPDATE: MAURICE LUCAS, A FORMER NBA WORLD CHAMPION POWER FORWARD WITH THE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS, HAS PASSED AWAY. THE ENFORCER, THE NICKNAME GIVEN TO HIM DURING HIS FABULOUS CAREER WITH PORTLAND, WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST POWER FORWARDS TO STAND IN THE PAINT IN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION’S HISTORY. HE CAME TO THE TRAILBLAZERS IN THE ABA DISPERSAL DRAFT WHEN THE ABA-NBA MERGER WAS TAKING PLACE.

THE WORLD OF BASKETBALL MOURNS THEIR MOST FEARED DEFENSIVE ENFORCER, AND WISHES HIS SURVIVING FAMILY THE BEST. IT’S A GREAT LOSS TO THE BASKETBALL FRATERNITY, AND A GREAT LOSS TO THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FAMILY, PERIOD.  AT 58YRS OF AGE, THE BASKETBALL GODS AWAIT THE MAN OF ALL MEN,  IN THE NBA’S MOST FEARED PART OF THEIR GAME, THE MIDDLE, UNDER THE BASKET, CLEARLY KNOWN AS, “THE PAINT”.

QUOTES FROM THIS GREAT ATHELETES ADMIRERS:

BILLIONAIRE, PAUL  ALLEN, OWNER OF THE PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS SAID, “I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE KNOWN THIS MAN, AND HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FRANCHISE HAS ENABLED ALL THAT ARE INVOLVED.

HEAD COACH, NATE McMILLAN STATES,” HE WAS MY BIG BROTHER, HE WAS MY FRIEND, AND ALSO, SIMPLY A GREAT MAN.