Q&A with Houston Rockets assistant coach John Lucas

John Lucas, the former Houston Rockets star and current head of player development has high expectations for next year’s squad. He shared his thoughts with HoopsHabit on the addition of Chris Paul, James Harden and more.

John Lucas has found his second life in the game of basketball.

Lucas, the former Maryland star and No. 1 overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft, has sought to assist some of the game’s premier talents as a coach, father figure, counselor and trusted adviser for over the last 30 years through his well-renown camps and clinics.

He has also returned to the place where his career began.

The 63-year-old who once served as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, is now back on the sidelines working as an assistant coach and head of player development for the Houston Rockets under head coach Mike D’Antoni.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lucas at Quest Multisport in Chicago this past weekend, about his most recent camp, James Harden, Chris Paul, the Rockets, and much more.

Gavriel Wilkins: Since retiring from the NBA, you have become a huge student, teacher and advocate for the game of basketball, taking out the time to train and work with some of the top players across all levels, over the last few decades.

Now, you are currently seeking to help tomorrow’s stars take their talent to the next level through Camp Right Way this weekend, which is regarded as one of the top national camps in the country for 7th and 8th grade players.

Tell us more about your latest endeavor.

John Lucas: Well, as you know, I have been doing this since my boys have come out of school. It all started with my oldest son John, who had the opportunity to play for the Chicago Bulls, followed by my youngest son Jai, who was named a McDonald’s All-American.

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Once I left the Cleveland Cavaliers as their head coach [in 2003], I started to realize that our league was getting younger. It was at that point where I noticed a greater need to come down and teach the game of basketball to younger age groups, so that kids could be better equipped to make it as they progress upward to other levels.

Plus, I love to teach. At the professional level, a lot of guys have come to master the art of their trade. But with the young kids, you can still get them to concentrate and focus. I don’t think that there is anything better than to see someone learn something that you are teaching them, or repeat a given lesson in which you have demonstrated to them over the years.

Wilkins: Last year, you received the opportunity to return to the professional level as an assistant and player development coach with the Houston Rockets, where you have sought to work with young players such as center Clint Capela and help them make tremendous strides.

What does it mean for you to be back in the game as a part of the team’s coaching staff, with the organization that you once played for?

Lucas: It means a lot. This is where it all started for me. One of the biggest things that I have learned though, is that I am over myself when it comes to working with young players. I am not the reason teams are winning. It is the talent on the team, combined with sharing the basketball, and solid communication on the floor that leads to those type of results.

And finding ways to get the most out of guys, who are willing to do whatever it takes to become better. That’s really the biggest intrigue about player development….which I view as business development.

Because as they get better…their overall business is able to grow, and our franchise continues to makes strides in the right direction. Which is the most important thing at the end of the day.

Wilkins: You also have the pleasure of coaching a special talent in James Harden, who had an MVP-caliber campaign last season.

What is it like to have the opportunity to work alongside a player of his caliber everyday, and help him take his game to another level?

Lucas: James works every day. We get in a lot of individual work at the end of practices a lot of times, and I have never seen anybody [more] committed….He is in better shape than he was last year. We really felt like he was the MVP, although I cannot argue against Russell Westbrook getting the award. But James had a phenomenal year, too. Hopefully, we can come back and do the same thing [next year]….He changed positions, and I found out that he is a great passer.

Plus, we added Chris Paul to our team this summer, who I think will complement him quite well to give us probably one of the best backcourts ever.

Wilkins: Which brings me to my next question. How do you see the two stars playing together next season under head coach Mike D’Antoni?

Lucas: I really think that they will be special together. Mike will give them both a lot of freedom. I think that they both can share the ball…James can play with anybody. He can play on the ball, off the ball, as well as multiple positions. Chris has continued to become a much more mature player as he has aged…he is a special talent.

Point guards are not made, they are born, and he is one of them.

Wilkins: This past season, you had the opportunity to coach in the playoffs for the first time since 1994, as the Rockets posted the third-best record out in the Western Conference last year with a 55-27 record.

What was that experience like for you?

Lucas: It was really exciting to see how the game has changed. Analytics have become so much more involved within the game now, and the players have a lot more say now than they did when I previously coached. But I really enjoyed it, and I love the evolution of where the game is going.

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It’s almost quickly becoming a position-less sport. You have big men shooting threes, and when you add the analytical piece into things, it really shows how the game has truly evolved.

Wilkins: In addition to your work with the Rockets, you also continue to help athletes fight alcohol and drug addiction through your wellness and aftercare program.

How have you found the time to still be a part of it, while in your current role with the franchise?

Lucas: Well, that’s what saved my life….for me it is about giving back. I owe them because somebody helped me save my life. So now, I am trying to give back as much as I can, and to help others save their lives, in order to avoid the same roads and pitfalls that happened in my career.

Wilkins: With that being said, what are your expectations for the 2017-18 Rockets?

Lucas: We only have one. Championship. I think that we have built our team up, in the effort to try and catch up with Golden State.

Next: Ranking NBA teams by tiers for the 2017-18 season

Hopefully we can do just that, and put ourselves in great position to go for the title.

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