Lucas likes Jazz

Just some leftovers from the interview I did with longtime NBA coach John Lucas, this week, that I couldn’t work into today’s column.

Tom Nissalke, the Jazz’s first coach in Utah, will be honored by the YMCA of Salt Lake, this week. So I asked Lucas what kind of coach Nissalke was (Nissalke was coaching the Rockets when they drafted Lucas as a rookie). Said Lucas: “Tom was very demanding, but fair. And I guess for me he was very good because I think we all need to be taught. Tom, I thought was a parent and he did a lot of parenting with me.”

Asked his thoughts on current Jazz coach Jerry Sloan, Lucas said: “He does a great job. He seems to get the best out of his team and I envy him. I think they have drafted very well in the time since Stockton and Malone were there. He’s one of my favorite coaches.”

Lucas is currently an assistant coach with the Clippers.