Writing with freelancer Moriarty, basketball player and coach Lucas recounts the story of how he overcame an incapacitating alcohol and drug problem by attending daily Twelve Step meetings. The son of a high school principal father and a junior high school principal mother, Lucas starred in tennis and basketball in secondary school and in basketball at the University of Maryland. In 1977 he was drafted by the Houston Rockets and began a pro career that covered 14 calendar years but not 14 seasons, since he played for six teams but was frequently dropped or traded because of substance abuse. Once his recovery began, however, Lucas dedicated himself to helping others, particularly pro cagers, through the therapeutic program he founded, John H. Lucas Enterprises. With copious quotes from family members, teammates, NBA league officials and others, Lucas, who is now general manager and coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, tells his inspiring tale. $100,000 ad/promo; author tour. (Sept.)
John Lucas recently accepted the job as head basketball coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, a post he held previously with the San Antonio Spus. Though a successful player and coach, Lucas' real legacy will be his work with alcoholics and drug abusers. He was both. After watching his playing career self-destruct via drugs, Lucas finally managed to turn his life around. As the length of his sobriety increased, Lucas used his own recovery to develop an exercise-based therapy program designed both to strengthen an addict's body and to improve his or her self-esteem. He affiliated with a Houston hospital, expanded his theories, and now operates a very successful program that has helped many athletes find a path to sobriety. This book is a humble, honest account of Lucas' journey from there to here. Included are comments from friends and family--not always laudatory--that lend depth to his story. There's plenty of basketball here, but sports isn't really the subject. John Lucas lost control of his life. With help, he got back on track and now helps others. It's an inspirational story, and it's well told.
