ESPN SportsCentury series about Jerry Lucas

Jerry Lucas considered as the greatest all-time college basketball player by many is chronicled in this edition of the ESPN series "SportsCentury.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

That was really cool seeing him shooting around on his childhood court in the park.

[@KB-sv7fm]

In the early 70’s , the Knicks game was so fluid , it was like watching 5 guys share the same mind.

[@jwiese100]

There’s something comforting about watching these

[@kyleellis77]

He came to where I lived in Ohio and put on a memory show. Very smart and nice guy.

[@tommy2chips]

This was a great story. I wonder why the NBATV never does this stuff on a regular bases?

[@bailinnumberguy]

Those Knicks teams of the early 70s were great, gifted, cerebral and cohesive. Look at the roster: DeBusschere, Bradley, Reed, Frazier, Lucas, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, Phil Jackson. Coached by Red Holzman. Quite a team.

[@brachio1000]

Dick Barnett, Cazzie Russel, Mike Riordan, Don May -- some of my favorites.

[@neglakay4373]

Jackson was a shitty player. Don't confuse his coaching success with his playing career.

[@frankherman5195]

Nba in its prime

[@Johnkoth]

Phil Jackson was a good defensive player. He gave full effort. Was considered a good player when entering NBA. Was Rookie First Team. Was limited offensively. But could score some inside.

[@williegordon9188]

Don't forget Dean Meminger.

[@GOATTomMack1]

I attended Jerry’s memory course in Cincinnati in 1979 while I was in Job Corp, attending UC. I still have the tapes and books from the course. I teach his memory techniques in my classes at PBSC. Thank you for everything, Jerry.

[@randybailin4902]

Havlicek and Lucas on the same college team. That must've been a helluva squad.

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

And Larry Siegfried, Havlicek's Celtic teammate.

[@brachio1000]

When it became apparent that Willis Reed's injuries would limit his playing time, the Knicks got Lucas out of desperation. Even though he wasn't a true center, they had an excellent team and won a championship. People forget how remarkable this was.

[@nethran9033]

Oooouuuu 0z

[@nethran9033]

R dfzz97z66 9x,f0he0v0vcfvr0c frcfe0

[@klavzerblut]

Wooooooooooooow. Such an amazing human being and a great great basketball player.

[@jerjets11]

My favorite player growing up. Glad to see his episode posted. Thanks.

[@jerjets11]

I briefly saw him as a Cincinnati Royal, where he was one of just two NBA players in the 1960s to average 20 points and 20 rebounds over multiple consecutive seasons.

[@jerjets11]

The season I remember most is 1971-72 with the NY Knicks. Playing center in the finals, he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. He made 50% of his shots versus Wilt Chamberlain, and many of them would have been threes today. Great, great, player.

[@jerjets11]

+jerjets11 facebook.com/Remember-Jerry-Lucas-574605269268759/

[@frankherman5195]

Loved Lucas's bomb stots from the top of the key.

[@milart12]

Would have been great with the 3 point line

[@frankherman5195]

Jerry was the Tesla of basketball. Unbelievable how these people are at a genius level.

[@F1Fast]

Great documentary boss.

[@martinsiegel4163]

It was too bad that Lucas and Robertson at Cincinnatti didn't have what I guess is called "chemistry". When he came to New York, Coach Red Holtzman devised a lineup that had no center, rather three forwards and two guards. It was unique. Lucas played far beyond the key and had the softest jump shot that was high and arcing. Marv Albert, say what you will about him, was a great radio announcer and he would say "Yes" as the crowd roared. In addition, Lucas was a clutch player, in his own way like Jerry West. Lucas to me is weird and an egotist and I can see being a part of a team over a long season could create problems. But he was a great player. The Knicks in those days played great team ball.

[@centrist1008]

So many Icons

[@Gnofg]

I have always maintained that they would have beaten the Lakers in the finals if Debuscherre had not been injured. It was a perfect matchup for them. They won the first game by 30 points. Chamberlain could not guard Lucas at the top of the circle and the next year I remember Chamberlain running out to try to guard Lucas and Lucas putting those bombs in..

[@nygirl6039]

This may sound crazy. Jerry Lucas is not only a genius, but I believe he is also psychic. My dad lived across the street from him in the 60's and early 70's. Jerry's children would play hide and seek with my dad. The children would always walk directly to the person hiding. My dad covered the kids with a blanket so they could not peek, while another boy hid. The children still made a B line to the hiding boy. My dad said, "How do you do that?" to which they replied "We just look through your eyes to see where you're going". Jerry's wife at the time also wrote books on psychic phenomenon.

[@vincenticemanvangogh7504]

Victor Bruins are you telling me tim duncan...couldn't do all that?

[@vincenticemanvangogh7504]

Victor Bruins I'm not offended you're fine. sportscentury was a great showcase...for telling the story of someone like jerry lucas. I'm way to young to have seen this man play..so it was enlightening to see a legend i wasn't all familiar with..

[@hermanblume275]

I once witnessed Jerry make a billy goat disappear before my very eyes...

[@retardexposer1385]

NY Girl bull shit

[@mookiestinks1262]

He's a monster in 2k

[@terencewinters2154]

Lucas provided the knicks with a high post center who could pass shoot and rebound . His nba career part 1 was pairing with oscar and royals to play second fiddle to Russell's celtics and wilts 76ers. Part 2 was his knicks career knees weakened but hitting the opening man hitting the = of a 3 , and rebounding the defensive glass. He was a savant . Rain man. 20 20 seasons. At ohio state he joined with havlicek and Siegfried.

[@tjbailey29820]

Lucas's knees were bad long before his days with the Knicks. They were bad when he was in high school. They came because of all the pounding they took playing on the concrete court in Middletown from the time he was a teenager. It was chronicled in this video narrated by Chris Fowler.

[@terencewinters2154]

@@tjbailey29820 I am familiar with Middletown it's a branch campus for Miami where I went and played ball with guys from there and Hamilton the Middleton rival. Dan Thomas was one middletown if still alive around 68 years old . Great guy about 6'7" good hands decent handle could score to about 17' and around goal rebounded . Lucas didnt let some floating cartilage get in the way when 90% of all rebounds are taken below the rim. Its tracking the shot to its predicted resting space while threading through the other bodies to gain position and boxing out and moving into its downward flight . Rodman moses lucas had it down. Lucas was a savant. So for him determining things that had already occurred to him before spatiorelationally was like a no brainer He could do that in his sleep . Corner jumper back spin I know where that's going let me get there first.

[@TheBatugan77]

I was going to say something about Lucas' memory. But I forgot what.

[@troytanner1693]

18:20 The teams now are the exact opposite now unfortunately

[@donaldleider7382]

I was gonna go to Jerry Lucas’s memory course but I forgot what day is was!

[@44032]

Bill Russell won the state championship his last two years in high school, the NCAA championship his last two years in college, the 1956 Olympic title and 11 NBA titles before Lucas finally completed his grand slam in 1973. Maybe Jerry ought to memorize that.

[@brachio1000]

He has.

[@tjbailey29820]

Steven Chappell; I cannot find any record of McClymonds HS winning a state championship anytime. What is your source?

[@WattisG]

@@tjbailey29820 : I got this reference from Wikipedia, although I have not confirmed it myself. Bjarkman, Peter C (2002). Boston Celtics Encyclopedia. Basketball-Reference. p. 99. ISBN 1-58261-564-0.

[@WattisG]

Tom Bailey: Here is the best reference I can find. The state tournament was discontinued from 1929 to 1981, but there was a Tournament of Champions for Northern Califormia, and that is what McClymonds won. The link that follows tells the story and referers to a documentary on the tournament. Hope this helps. www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/03/20/film-recaptures-toc-excitement/

[@WattisG]

Tournament of Champions: Northern California High School Basketball is on youtube.

[@jasonlassiter9229]

Jerry Lucas, Wilt Chamberlain, Wes Unseld, Bill Russell, and Dennis Rodman were the greatest rebounders in NBA history-in my opinion.

[@tjbailey29820]

I would say that you are spot on!

[@PeekaPeep]

Don't forget Bob Pettit and Nate Thurmond! Those two are still Top 5 locks in that category last time I checked. Pettit might even be the greatest rebounding NBA forward that ever played the game, NO ONE close to him at that position save for maybe Lucas and a prime Elgin Baylor (before the unfortunate knee injury he sustained halfway though the '60s).

[@casualfandestroyer2503]

Oscar and Lucas was like lebron/Kevin love

[@drobson8004]

Lucas was far better than KL

[@keithsmith4780]

Fellow Ohio State Buckeye Bobby Knight had a simple explanation for John Havlicek's NBA success: "He just wanted to beat Lucas."

[@jorgecitoAZ]

Jerry Lucas... the Sheldon Cooper of the NBA.

[@tjbailey29820]

Trust me, he is nothing like Sheldon Cooper other than having a brilliant mind.

[@tjbailey29820]

My apologies to jorgecitoAZ as I believe you meant that Lucas looked like Sheldon Cooper. I thought you meant that he was goofy like him. I was watching Big Bang Theory the other night and saw that resemblance.

[@jorgecitoAZ]

Tom Bailey heh, guess it could be taken in more than one way... my original intent was to point out the unconventional thinking, behavior, and eidetic memory similarities between both. Definitely unique characters, each...

[@hermanblume275]

Who the fuck is Sheldon Cooper? I played for the New Lebanon Dixie Greyhounds in the early '50s and once we was a playin' at Middletown and they was kickin' our everlovin' asses up one side and down the uther. Me and Enos Sizemore (Mark's granddaddy) was a bringin' the ball up the court against Lucas and his Middie teammate Tom Sizer. Ther coach ol' Paul Walker was a trappin' us halfcourt even though they was up by 63 points in the third quarter, but we didn't care, we was gonna give them boys all they wanted. All of sudden Sizer stripped me of the ball, then for no reason he gives it back to me around the foul line, like he was a mocking me, that raccoon-eyed motherfucker. The two then backed off and let me shoot a wide open jumper. Suddenly Lucas leapt up from 20 feet away and shoved my shot into the 19th row at Wade E. Miller Gym. It smacked security guard Asa Breeny in the face and he had to be rushed to the local hospital with a busted nose. Coach Hines had us go to our famous "Greyhound Full Court Kiss My Ass Press" and we cut the lead to 47 in the fourth quarter..... True story.

[@williamtoad8040]

Wilt Chamberlain had a mind for numbers like you couldn’t believe to, he would recall each game and how many points and rebounds he made in that specific exact game

[@YusefAnderson-ds2lg]

Peace

[@manny4552]

Lucas could shoot from halfcourt at 6 10 and was a great rebounder but i was surprised when he got into the nba hall of fame.

[@jerjets11]

There is no NBA Hall Of Fame. He qualified for the one in Springfield easily. On his high school and college career alone.

[@tjbailey29820]

jerjets11 Actually it is the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, it just happens to be in Springfield. The NBA embraces it as their hall, if you don't believe me, follow this link: www.nba.com/halloffame/

[@bruceevert1655]

BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME. not.. NBA HALL OF FAME.

[@theretrosavage]

He has the fourth highest career rebounds per game average ever..

[@manny4552]

@@theretrosavage yes he was a beast on the boards

[@RamotarNoScope]

Who would have though two of the greatest nba players roomed together in college

[@tjbailey29820]

If it were true, what difference would rooming together make. The fact of the matter is that John Havlicek wasn't that great in college. Those three OSU teams were all about Lucas. Havlicek didn't even make All American until his senior year and then he was second team. He made his mark when he became a Celtic and then you could say "two of the greatest" and Havlicek actually had a better pro career than Lucas.

[@tristanhicks5372]

Tom Bailey he did say greatest nba players. It was more of a funny thing

[@lloydkline3265]

Jerry Lucas was a great NBA player, greater rebounder, shooter, great memory expert

[@hermanblume275]

Darnell Fucking Hoskins is the head basketball coach of Middletown HS right now! Gadzooks!

[@davidwilliamson9333]

HOW DO YOU MEMORIZE THE PHONE BOOK 📖

[@rtvassaultz4990]

Believe it or not Jerry Lucas is my cousin i have not personally met him but my mom has told me stories about him and they stuff they used to do together

[@tjbailey29820]

Well you will certainly want to get a copy of his new book then. Who knows, you may have been talked about in the book, he mentions a whole bunch of his relatives. www.middiemagic.com/

[@nealzokan2680]

doesn't seem like a nice guy if he didn't want to meet his cousin !

[@TheBatugan77]

@@nealzokan2680 Don't be a turd, Neal.

[@larrycurtis2783]

What if 3 pointer existed knicks win more

[@Amick44]

Just think if put all that thought and effort into basketball alone. He might have been more like another Havlicek or Robertson or Bird. Instead of the next level below. Still, a great player and career. But it's what makes people individuals.

[@tjbailey29820]

+Mick A You hit the nail on the head Mick A, BBall was #3 on Luke's priority list, he was driven by his religion and his desire to teach.

[@Amick44]

+Tom Bailey Yeah and I've heard for yrs about his legendary memory. Heard he barely studied in college, just memorized everything. Basketball for Lucas, like Kareem, was important, but by no means everything. Kareem said "basketball is but a means to an end." I'm sure Lucas felt the same way.

[@tjbailey29820]

You are a very fortunate young man to have Jerry as a grandpa, he is an amazing person. Next time you see him, tell him that Beatle Bailey says hello!

[@tjbailey29820]

Jerry? Not remember? :) I grew up in Middletown and was in the same class at MHS with him, we graduated in 1958. He tagged me with that nickname (Beatle) when we were sophomores.

[@williegordon9188]

@@Amick44 Without basketball Kareem would have starved,you don't bash the profession that made you rich and famous.

[@alvinweaver1450]

Tipping in the jump ball has to be a I have to see it to believe it type play. This is like the babe Ruth calling a shot that's how unrealistic it is but I'm not saying it did not get done either one of them I'm just saying we will never know

[@MiddletownBuck1971]

Lucas was NEVER 6’10”. He was 6’8”. Luke was known as the Howitzer. MIDDIES !

[@curtcornett8363]

He is my third cousin.

[@hermanblume275]

Me and Jerry went to different schools...

[@retardexposer1385]

Curt Cornett wow your cool. Loser

[@lloydkline3265]

Lucky man, I had his memory book, legendary basketball nba, college,etc etc

[@TheBatugan77]

Third cousin? How are the other two doing? 😁🤓😎

[@NEO_RedPill_2024]

Great player, but yeah I think he has OCD. But hey, that is probably what made him such a good player as well as hard to deal with on a personal level.

[@tjbailey29820]

What is OCD?

[@NEO_RedPill_2024]

Obsessive compulsive disorder. Spelling?

[@tjbailey29820]

Wow, you are really off base with that diagnosis.

[@NEO_RedPill_2024]

Tom Bailey how so? There are various degrees of the disease. At the very least he has the tendencies. Would you not agree?

[@mitchelll3879]

@@NEO_RedPill_2024 I knew this one guy who was allegedly a genius who literally was too stupid to drive a car...he could remember obscure numbers and piping systems for whatever reason...and the maturity of a 11 year old

[@emonibates3987]

Jerry Lucas is wrong , he was not the first person to win at every level. Bill russel was

[@sett1ler]

Emoni Bates iiiiii

[@gerryhoops2643]

Russell didn't win a high school title.

[@casualfandestroyer2503]

@@gerryhoops2643 yes he did

[@tjbailey29820]

@@casualfandestroyer2503 He only won the No Cal Championship in Highschool. There was a separate SoCal Championship and no overall state championship.

[@manny4552]

No what it proves is that you never saw him play you just read about him and prattle off stats.If you had watched him play you would realize he was a star not a superstar like the great john havlicek was.

[@tjbailey29820]

Wrong again, went to school with him...You are now 0 for 2.

[@Amick44]

+manny4552 Lucas, while great, simply didn't excel in all facets of the game like a Havlicek, Robertson. Great rebounder, excellent scorer. Not really a true force on D or a ball handler. Which Oscar and Hondo were.

[@jerjets11]

+manny4552 , that's baloney. And I did see him play for the Knicks.

[@jerjets11]

+Mick A , Havlicek was no ballhandler. And he wasn't All-Pro until the 70s. Lucas was a great pro immediately.

[@manny4552]

+jerjets11 Ok lucas is in the to 50 or 60 of alltime player list he was damn good , i just dont think he was in the same elite class of the very top guys.Havlicek was in what 13 or 14 allstar games how many all defensive teams he was certainly an allstar in the 60s its just that as the late 60s and 70s came about his minutes increased.

[@youtuber3328]

kyrie irving russell westbrook paul pierce steve nash dirk nowitzki dwayne wade lebron james kobe bryant tim duncan anfernee hardaway ray allen reggie miller alonzo mourning gary payton clyde drexler scottie pippen robert parish wes unseld david robinson dave cowens george gervin john stockton charles barkley kevin mchale patrick ewing and karl malone weren't equal to superstar jerry lucas

[@russelljackson171]

How is Dennis Rodman the best rebounder of all time. Russell, chamberlain, petit and Jerry Lucas average more rebound than him?

[@theretrosavage]

He's one of the best....but yeah those guys were beast on the glass

[@TheBatugan77]

Moses Malone... "i go to the rack..."

[@manny4552]

When i said n b a hall of fame you knew what i meant.Ive been watching hundreds of n b a games since 1970 and altough i alaway thought he was a great player i never considered him hall of fame material despite all those awards and stats.

[@tjbailey29820]

manny4552 All that proves is that you don't know how to evaluate basketball talent!

[@avoidcontact88]

One of 3 nba players to ever average 20 rebounds and 20 points in an entire season. You sir wouldn't know talent if it walked up and slapped you in the face.

[@manny4552]

+Chamm530 He was a great player but stats dont always tell the whole story.Who would you rather have on your team jerry lucas or rick barry,id take barry in a heartbeat.

[@jerjets11]

+manny4552 , two different kinds of players. SF vs. Big man. Why don't you compare Kareem and Nate Archibald, too.

[@gerryschultz7352]

@@manny4552 , different positions.

[@unclequack5445]

How convenient this Guy had everything handed to him on a fucking platter, all he had to do was show up. Don't tell me God don't play favorites, the talent, the intelligence, the timing Lucas was given it all.

[@tjbailey29820]

Who handed it to him?

[@jerryadkins5418]

Oscar was great but he was a prima donna.