Lucas, Jerry (1940-…), was an outstanding college and professional basketball player. Lucas was known for his strong rebounding and his accurate shooting from near the basket and farther out on the floor. At 6 feet 8 inches (203 centimeters) in height, he played both forward and center.
Lucas starred on the Ohio State University team that won the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship in 1960. He was a member of the United States team that won the gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games. Lucas also played on the New York Knicks team that won the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship in 1973.
Jerry Ray Lucas was born in Middletown, Ohio, on March 30, 1940. He was an All-American all three years he played at Ohio State, graduating in 1962. He was selected by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1962 NBA draft. Lucas did not play during the 1962-1963 season, but he played for Cincinnati from 1963 to 1970. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year his first season. Lucas was traded to the San Francisco Warriors in 1970 and then to New York in 1971. He retired in 1974. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980.
