Maurice Lucas, the former Portland Trail Blazers forward and assistant coach, has died Sunday. He was 58.A five-time NBA All-Star, Lucas had battled bladder cancer for several years. He had surgery in 2009, which forced him to be relieved of his assistant-coaching duties for head coach Nate McMillan.
Lucas played 14 professional seasons in the ABA and, after the 1976 merger, the NBA. The 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward had two stints with the Blazers, with whom he was a critical component on the Bill Walton-led 1977 championship team, Portland's only title to date.
His No. 20 jersey hangs in the rafters of the Rose Garden, and he is widely considered as one of the most-important players in the history of the franchise. Lucas averaged 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds for his pro career.
Bill Walton has called Lucas "the greatest Trail Blazer of all-time."
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