John Harding Lucas III
Encyclopedia
John Harding Lucas III, often referred to as just John Lucas (born November 21, 1982), is an American
professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls
. He spent the 2009-10 season with the Shanghai Sharks
of the CBA
.
as the son of former NBA player and coach John Lucas
and his wife DeEdgra, Lucas once lived in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
and played for the same school as current NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant
(though 3 years after Bryant left and only on the junior varsity team). Lucas was the starting point guard
on the same high school team (Bellaire High School
) in Texas as current New Orleans Hornets star Emeka Okafor
and former Memphis Grizzlies
power forward Lawrence Roberts
. Lucas has a younger brother Jai
, who started playing basketball at Florida
in 2007-08.
He originally played collegiately at Baylor University
, but he transferred from there to Oklahoma State University in the wake of the 2003 Baylor basketball scandal
. Lucas is noted for his winning shot against the Saint Joseph's University
team that sent the 2004 Oklahoma State Cowboys to the NCAA Final Four
.
team, Lucas signed a contract to play with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Summer League team. The Timberwolves also signed him to their training camp roster. In the regular season
, Lucas was a member of the Houston Rockets
for two games before being waived. He was successfully signed after the NBA granted permission to Rockets management to add to their depleted roster due to an overflow of injuries. Lucas's call-up made him the first Tulsa 66ers
player to be called up from the NBA Development League
. He averaged 16.6 points in 33.2 mins per game with the 66ers.
On May 10, 2006, Lucas signed with Snaidero Udine
of the Italian League
, to fill the gap left by Jerome Allen, who was out for the season due to injury. On July 28, 2006, Lucas signed with the Rockets to a three-year contract. In the 2006-07 season
, Lucas and the Rockets made it to the playoffs
, where they lost to the Utah Jazz
in the first round, in 7 games. On October 30, 2007, Lucas was one of four players cut from the Rockets' roster, prior to the commencement of the 2007-08 season
.
His NBA career highs consisted of 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, and he subsequently returned to Italian basketball, joining Benetton Treviso
. He was then later released by Treviso during that same 2007-08 season. Lucas was signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder
in September 2008, and he was released by them in November before playing in any NBA games for them. He then played the 2008-09 NBA D-League season with the Colorado 14ers
, whom he helped lead to the D-League championship. On April 27, 2009, Lucas signed with TAU Cerámica
of the Spanish ACB League for the remainder of the season.
On September 2, 2009, Lucas was drafted by the Maine Red Claws in the NBA Development League expansion draft.
Lucas played in the 2009 NBA preseason for the Miami Heat
. He played four games and averaged 7.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game. On October 23, 2009, Lucas was waived by the Heat.
He spent the 2010 NBA preseason with the Chicago Bulls
, but was waived on October 21. The Bulls re-signed Lucas on November 26. In his debut for the Bulls, Lucas missed two critical free throws in the final seconds of a 98-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets
. He was waived on January 4, 2011, but re-signed with the Bulls on March 20, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. He spent the 2009-10 season with the Shanghai Sharks
Shanghai Sharks
The Shanghai Sharks , is a Chinese Basketball Association team based in Shanghai, China. Steven Kevelam is the first to corporate a good sponsorship, there is often an additional name used: for many years they were also known as the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks , but now are known as Shanghai Xiyang...
of the CBA
Chinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
.
Early life
Born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as the son of former NBA player and coach John Lucas
John Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II is a retired American professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.-Basketball playing career and substance abuse:...
and his wife DeEdgra, Lucas once lived in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania is a suburban community located outside of Philadelphia in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania and Haverford Township, Pennsylvania, United States. Wynnewood was named in 1691 for Dr. Thomas Wynne, William Penn's physician and the first Speaker of the Pennsylvania General...
and played for the same school as current NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
(though 3 years after Bryant left and only on the junior varsity team). Lucas was the starting point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
on the same high school team (Bellaire High School
Bellaire High School (Bellaire, Texas)
Bellaire High School is a secondary school of the Houston Independent School District, and its campus is located in Bellaire, Texas ....
) in Texas as current New Orleans Hornets star Emeka Okafor
Emeka Okafor
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Okafor, abbreviated as Emeka Okafor , is an American basketball power forward and center for the New Orleans Hornets of the National Basketball Association. Prior to the NBA, Okafor attended Houston's Bellaire High School, and the University of Connecticut.-Early life:Okafor...
and former Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
power forward Lawrence Roberts
Lawrence Roberts
Lawrence Roberts may refer to:*Lawrence Roberts , one of the 4 "fathers" of the Internet*Lawrence Roberts , American professional basketball player*Lawrence Roberts , Pennsylvania politician...
. Lucas has a younger brother Jai
Jai Lucas
Jai Lucas is a NCAA college basketball player for the Texas Longhorns. He was a McDonald's All American and was rated 20th by ESPN class of 2007. Lucas previously played for the University of Florida, but decided to transfer from the Florida Gators men's basketball team, due to lack of playing...
, who started playing basketball at Florida
Florida Gators basketball
The Florida Gators have two Gator basketball programs:*Men's*Women's...
in 2007-08.
He originally played collegiately at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, but he transferred from there to Oklahoma State University in the wake of the 2003 Baylor basketball scandal
Baylor University basketball scandal
The Baylor University basketball scandal was an incident in which the Baylor University men's basketball program was investigated and punished for numerous NCAA violations. The scandal broke out after the 2003 murder of men's basketball player Patrick Dennehy...
. Lucas is noted for his winning shot against the Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
team that sent the 2004 Oklahoma State Cowboys to the NCAA Final Four
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
.
Professional career
In 2005, after failing to get drafted by an NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
team, Lucas signed a contract to play with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
Summer League team. The Timberwolves also signed him to their training camp roster. In the regular season
2005-06 NBA season
The 2005–06 NBA season was the 60th season of the National Basketball Association. It began on November 1, 2005 and ran through April 19, 2006...
, Lucas was a member of the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
for two games before being waived. He was successfully signed after the NBA granted permission to Rockets management to add to their depleted roster due to an overflow of injuries. Lucas's call-up made him the first Tulsa 66ers
Tulsa 66ers
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountains with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S...
player to be called up from the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. He averaged 16.6 points in 33.2 mins per game with the 66ers.
On May 10, 2006, Lucas signed with Snaidero Udine
Pallalcesto Amatori Udine
Snaidero Basketball is a prominent Italian basketball club based in Udine. It is also known as Snaidero Cucine Udine.-History:Its best finish so far is a 5th place in the Italian tournament in the 2005/06 season. The gold years for basketball in Udine were from 1965 to 1980, when the president and...
of the Italian League
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
, to fill the gap left by Jerome Allen, who was out for the season due to injury. On July 28, 2006, Lucas signed with the Rockets to a three-year contract. In the 2006-07 season
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
, Lucas and the Rockets made it to the playoffs
2007 NBA Playoffs
The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in...
, where they lost to the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the first round, in 7 games. On October 30, 2007, Lucas was one of four players cut from the Rockets' roster, prior to the commencement of the 2007-08 season
2007-08 NBA season
The 2007–08 NBA season was the 62nd season of the National Basketball Association. The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, and ended on Wednesday, April 16, 2008...
.
His NBA career highs consisted of 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, and he subsequently returned to Italian basketball, joining Benetton Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso
Pallacanestro Treviso, more often known by its sponsorship name of Benetton Basket, or Benetton Treviso, is an Italian Serie A League professional basketball club from Treviso, the headquarters city of its longtime owner Benetton Group...
. He was then later released by Treviso during that same 2007-08 season. Lucas was signed by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
in September 2008, and he was released by them in November before playing in any NBA games for them. He then played the 2008-09 NBA D-League season with the Colorado 14ers
Colorado 14ers
The Colorado 14ers were a team in the NBA Development League which began play in 2006-07. They were affiliated with the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors of the NBA. The 14ers played their home games at the Broomfield Event Center in the Denver suburb of Broomfield, Colorado. ...
, whom he helped lead to the D-League championship. On April 27, 2009, Lucas signed with TAU Cerámica
Saski Baskonia
Saski Baskonia, S.A.D., known as Caja Laboral for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club from the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain...
of the Spanish ACB League for the remainder of the season.
On September 2, 2009, Lucas was drafted by the Maine Red Claws in the NBA Development League expansion draft.
Lucas played in the 2009 NBA preseason for the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
. He played four games and averaged 7.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game. On October 23, 2009, Lucas was waived by the Heat.
He spent the 2010 NBA preseason with the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, but was waived on October 21. The Bulls re-signed Lucas on November 26. In his debut for the Bulls, Lucas missed two critical free throws in the final seconds of a 98-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
. He was waived on January 4, 2011, but re-signed with the Bulls on March 20, 2011.