John Lucas III

infobox NBA Player
name = John Lucas
league =
position = Point guard
height_ft = 5 |height_in = 10.75
weight_lbs = 170
nationality = American
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|11|21
birth_place = Washington, D.C.
college = Baylor, Oklahoma State
draft = Undrafted
league =
team =
number =
career_start = 2005
former_teams = Tulsa 66ers (2005–2006)
Snaidero Udine (2006)
Houston Rockets (2005–2007)
Benetton Treviso (2007-08)
awards =

John Harding Lucas III, often referred to as just John Lucas (born November 21 1982), is an American professional basketball player formerly of the NBA's Houston Rockets. [http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Rockets_waive_four_to_finalize-240964-34.html Rockets finalize roster for regular season] , October 29, 2007.]

Early life

Born in Washington, D.C. 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 with current Charlotte Bobcats 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. [ [http://www.gatorcountry.com/basketball_recruiting/article/reloading_jai_lucas_will_be_a_gator/ Reloading! Jai Lucas will be a Gator] , by Franz Beard - "GatorCountry.com", May 15, 2007.]

He originally played collegiality at Baylor University, but transferred from there to Oklahoma State University in the wake of the 2003 Baylor basketball scandal. Lucas is noted for his winning shot against Saint Joseph's University that sent the 2004 Oklahoma State Cowboys to the NCAA Final Four.

Professional career

In 2005, after failing to get drafted by an NBA 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. [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4080531.html Rockets seal Lucas deal | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle .] ] 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 played with the Oklahoma City Thunder during their 2008 NBAtraining camp before being released.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/john_iii_lucas/index.html NBA.com profile]