July 18, 2003, 12:37AM Can Lucas save basketball? He's trying one player at a time By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle This might not be basketball heaven. But follow the light, and you just might see it from here. It is 6 a.m., dark on the Rice University campus. The only sounds are the chirp, chirp, chirp of birds saying good morning to John Lucas. You rub your eyes, yawn and follow the only light you see, which comes from an open door at the Rice basketball practice facility next to Autry Court. "We're about to lose the game of basketball," Lucas tells you as he stands in the doorway, looks at his watch and shouts at a 15-year-old boy who just got dropped off in front of the gym. "Come on! It's getting late!" It's 6:15 a.m., and yes, it is getting late. It might be getting too late. The basic, important parts of a game this country -- and this city, to a large degree -- once defined are slipping away. Europeans, South Americans and many Africans play the game with better fundamentals than Americans. International competitions at every level no longer are showcase events for the U.S. game and U.S. dominance. Just Wednesday, the USA Junior World Championship team lost by 21 points to Australia in the semifinals of the event. Earlier this summer, traveling junior teams came home without winning a championship or making it to the finals of events in France and Spain. And, of course, a year ago the U.S. national team -- once dubbed "The Dream Team" -- was embarrassed at the World Championships. But Lucas is leading this charge back to the soul of the game only in part because of what he's seen in international events. He is doing it only partly because of what he has seen in the NBA, including the huge strides international players have made infiltrating the draft, with more than a third of this year's first-round picks being foreign-born players. Mostly, Lucas is doing it because as he has watched games on television and watched his sons play at the collegiate and youth levels, he has not liked what he's seen. Not one bit. "Players are more interested in the entertainment phase than the basic basketball," said Lucas, the former Rockets star and NBA head coach. "As a pro coach, when I got young players, I always understood why I got beat, and it's because most players don't have the fundamentals and don't understand the game and can't shoot the ball. "I just thought to myself, `I'm not doing right to just sit here in the summer and not try to do something about this.' " And so as daybreak creeps through the old oak trees surrounding the Rice gym, a steady stream of players of various ages begins arriving. There are 13-year-olds wearing scuffed shoes and baggy shorts. There are young high school stars wearing their school colors. There are proven college players in practice gear, up-and-coming pros such as Ndudi Ebi, and NBA stars hoping to reclaim their careers, such as Damon Stoudamire. There are those trying one last time to find a job, like 37-year-old former Mavericks star Roy Tarpley and other veterans looking for jobs in European professional leagues. They are here -- usually about 30 players every morning -- because Lucas has stripped the game to its core. Shirts and skins. Morning practices. Hard work. "We do it early because if you get up every morning like this, you know I'm getting the guys that really want to play basketball," Lucas said. "I tell them, `If this is going to be your job, or this is how you're going to get a college education, then the commitment has to be there like a job.' It's a real commitment, but we've had guys that have not missed once." Players have responded to Lucas' coaching and the tough twice-a-day workouts (afternoon practice runs from 3-6 p.m.) with remarkable zeal, like they've discovered what was missing in their games. The fundamentals. Lucas has uncovered the bare essence, in many ways, of the game. The shooting. Setting screens. Dribbling. Passing. Cutting. Most significantly, Lucas has preached understanding the flow, style and approach to winning basketball. And the cost of admission to these every-day, twice-a-day workouts at Rice and Bellaire High School? Don't bring your American Express or Visa or any money. Just bring your game. These workouts are not for novices or the meek. This is not biddy ball or some instructional camp. Elite players of various ages across the city have learned of Lucas' coaching mostly through word of mouth. And the response has been remarkable. What started as a few calls to friends of Lucas' sons has grown into nine- and 10-hour days of teaching the game to Houston's best players. "There is enough talent in Houston that you shouldn't have to leave this city to get the top players," Lucas said. "But it's undeveloped talent. I'm getting the guys that really love the game, really want to make the commitment and really want to get better." At 6:30 a.m. every day, Lucas greets players with a series of drills that are eye-openers in several ways. Not once in 90 minutes of practice every morning do the roughly 30 players run five-on-five, full-court. "They'll just run and dunk if you do that," Lucas said. Instead, Lucas and his assistant coaches, all of whom are former coaches volunteering their time, line up cones for dribble drills. They run players through drills that teach screens, rolling off screens, shooting midrange jump shots. They sprint into defensive drills, sprint back and forth working on cuts. Lucas presses players, pushing them to make better passes, take better angles to the basket, spin on the proper pivot foot. One minute, Ebi, the 6-9 first-round draft choice of the Timberwolves, is in line waiting to dribble through cones, standing behind a 13-year-old seventh-grader and in front of a 15-year-old ninth-grader. Later, Ebi is posting up on Tarpley and Melvin Sanders, the burly All-Big 12 star of Oklahoma State. "It doesn't matter what age they are; players just want to play, and the older guys need the fundamental work, too," Lucas said. "It's good for the younger ones to see the older guys here, and for (Ebi), he's going to remember where he came from. The younger guys are going to remember that Ebi was here doing the same things that they were doing." It was here that Lucas put Ebi and Beaumont Ozen's Kendrick Perkins through individual workouts in front of 18 NBA scouts prior to the draft. It's here that roughly 25 to 30 college coaches have arrived over the summer, wandering into the gym after hearing of Lucas' workouts, searching for hidden gems. It's here the game is pure and basic. Dribble, screen, shoot. John Lucas is trying to help reclaim the game, one player at a time. I know John Lucas isn't a great coach...but I think that John Lucas is doing a very good thing and it is cool that Nbudi Ebi and Damon Stoudamire and Kendrick Perkins go to his program along with young kids and old men and all types of people. I just don't understand why John Lucas is doing this! He really cares about the game that much? (with tears)
Excellent article! This is why LeBron wanted Lucas to coach him. No Rocket knew how to distribute the ball and run the fast break better than Lucas. Incredible court vision. P.S. Lucas is better a teacher/mentor, rather than a NBA head coach type. He couldn't deal with the NBA egos. Better to teach them while they are young. Before they become spoiled.
Entertainment phase, without the fundamentals creates ESPN highlights, but not much else. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, learned the fundamentals FIRST. Then, and only then were they able to be "entertaining," yet controlled! When you have both, you'll be in much better position to win championships (and the game is better because of it). Priorities. It's not about one, at the expesse of the other. It's about a process of learning the game. Fundamentals first. Then, one can add the "flash" and "entertainment" after that. "Players are more interested in the entertainment phase than the basic basketball," said Lucas, the former Rockets star and NBA head coach. "As a pro coach, when I got young players, I always understood why I got beat, and it's because most players don't have the fundamentals and don't understand the game and can't shoot the ball. - John Lucas
The Nets and The Spurs were probably two of the most 'fundamentally sound' teams but the ratings showed the lack of entertainment We need both . . .I just don't want the NBA to do what the NFL did and throw the baby out with the bathwater [I hate the no more ENDZONE DANCE rules and crap] Rocket River
I agree. Both are needed. Because of one is lacking, then it becomes boring or sloppy. But fundamentals must be learned first, then move on to the "flash." If you learn the "flash" first, that player will lack control, and it becomes sloppy and undisciplined (Francis).
This is a great article about a great person, John Lucas. When I was watching the World Championships and the US team lose to such laughable squads such as Argentina, Yugolslavia, Spain, I made a similar observation to what Lucas said. The entertainment phase of the game has taken over the modern athlete. The fundamentals of the US squad and teamwork were sorely lacking. The intelligence wasn't there. Lucas is trying to bring that back. You can't put a team of athletes out there without someone who truly understands the game. It's no different than football, where you need your world class athletes, but you also need a quarterback, a center and a middle linebacker who understand the fundamentals of the game to orchestrate everything out there. The US team did not have that element. The first step in correcting this deterioration of fundamental skills is taking that "And-One" tour crap off of ESPN2. That culture of basketball is why the US embarrassed itself in interternational competition and why many basketball fans are turning off their tv's when they see players behaving like morons.
You can gain entertainment from the purity of the Game also from the pure athleticism of the players. One thing that I notice from young athletes is that they dont live the athletic life. We need a revival of the standards set by the Romans /Greeks who practiced the purity of Athletics.
By George, the league needs a fundamendals test. To qualify to for the NBA draft, each player would have to take a challenging fundamentals examination followed by continuing education classes with a side curricula of entertainment moves. Then they could earn a masters or doctorate in basics with minors or even second majors in flash. The military has a war college, doesn't it?
Glad to hear he is still involved and helping out, but I remember last season at about this same time a specific article on ESPN.com talking about him sitting down with Stevie having a long talk about D and pushing the ball up and becoming an MVP. After seeing Stevie last season, it seems to me that he either he did not get throught to Stevie or Lucas has the same problem the other NBA coaches have and that is getting the players to listen to him.
No test needed. They just need to do the fundamental work. Simple. But, it's ok. If USA Basketball doesn't learn those skills, then they will just be passed over by young/hungry International players. So, it's your choice young "playas." Do the work, or else, lose the opportunity to play in the league.
as much as it pains me, I have to agree with Yetti. Good fundamentals are better for me to watch than 100 years of ESPN highlight dunks and flashy passes. Without the fundamentals, we would just end up watching and1 tapes all day. When I played, flashy, individual play was discouraged. If you couldnt set a decent pick, shoot free throws, make good passes, handle the ball or play good defence...you sat on the bench. It didnt matter if you could dunk or had flashy dribbling skills(between the legs, behind the back, etc). Good fundamental team basketball was what the coaches wanted to see. Maybe I'm just old...but ESPN highlight reels dont appeal to me.
but may not be what Joe avg American wants to see and *that* is your consumer While us basketball geeks may love it. . . maybe we are in the minority I mean. . . let's say next season they take out the Dunk and the cross over is now considered illegal Even if the fundamentals are there. . . who is watch Primary Example: WNBA - they play by far the most fundamental ball AND they not as flashy BUT Who is watching their games beyond a selct few? I mean .. if you MR Fundamentals. . .are you watching the WNBA otherwise. . it is hypocritical Rocket River
Again, the point is that fundaments learned early in young kids' careers helps them in the long run. But the kids just skip all the fundamentals and go right to he flash end up hurting the game as a whole. By the way, "Joe Average" doesn't know what he's been missing. Most of those 18-24 year olds don't remember much before 1990 anyways. P.S. Yes. I do watch the Comets when they are on TV.
I hardly think it is hypocritical for me to admit to not watching more than maybe 10% of the WNBA games. I just dont have time to catch them. Do I think they play good fundamental ball? Yes. Do I think any less of them because of that? No. I didnt say i thought that the flashy play should be outlawed, all I really wish for is like DavidS said...learn the fundamentals first, then add the flashy plays on top of that. but IMO, lots of players seem to leave out that important part of the game...the fundamentals. Poor shooting, poor passing skills...playing for themselves and only seeming to care about how they look on the highlight reels. I know that not all of them are this way, but it sure seems like it. I find pleasure in watching a good game played between two teams with good fundamental skills. This doesnt mean that I dont appreciate a strong dunk or a well run fast break or even some of Kidds showy passes...but show me that you have the fundamental desire to play the game the way it was intended...and I will be happy. I may be in the minority, but I'm just stating what I like..not what I think everyone should be forced to like.
If you guys would watch more than a second of an AND 1 tape or the streetball stuff on ESPN 2, you'd see that the NBA is not in danger of even becoming a fraction of those guys play. The finals were boring as hell btw.
Boring is knowing in advance who is going to win. I wasn't positive that SA could take it, and NJ had it's chances.. better than knowing that the Fakers were going to win from the second that the WC Finals were concluded.
Two teams that couldn't shoot to save their lives are fundamentally sound? Fundamentally sound on defense, maybe...but not in general.
