Fansided

Every NBA team’s greatest enforcer of all time

By Luke Anton

LOS ANGELES - 1987: Bill Laimbeer #40 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California in the 1987-1988 NBA season. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - 1987: Bill Laimbeer #40 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, California in the 1987-1988 NBA season. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images /

Portland Trail Blazers — Maurice Lucas

It is impossible to have a list of the greatest enforcers of all-time without including the original guy with the nickname, The Enforcer. That’s Maurice Lucas, the OG!

From inner-city Pittsburgh, the legend of Maurice Lucas started in the ABA for the St. Louis Spirits, where he once punched the lights out of 7-foot-2 and 240-pound Artis Gilmore. Lucas was 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, always donned a mustache and usually a slight fro. In his first NBA season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lucas was not only the enforcer, but he was also the leading scorer for a Blazers team that went on to win the championship in 1977. It was in Game 2 of that 1977 Finals when the Darryl Dawkins incident broke loose. Dawkins slammed Bob Gross and started swinging. Lucas was ready and punched Dawkins in the back of the head, leading to the two enforcers literally squaring off at center court with their dukes up. The fight was a spark for the Blazers who went down 2-0 but rattled off four straight wins.

Lucas was considered by many to be the gold standard power forward in the NBA. He was a rebounding machine, wreaking havoc underneath the basket. Players would focus their attention on carrot top Bill Walton, allowing Lucas to swoop in like a pendulum. Yet he was also graceful with a sweet jumper. He was admired for his dedication and for being a true warrior of the game.

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