C Jerry Lucas (National Champ, CBB HOF, NBA HOF)

[ScriptOhio]

THAT'S A LOT OF MOOLAH. In 1962, Jerry Lucas signed his first professional contract with the ABL's Cleveland Pipers, featuring $10,000 of compensation per season and an additional $40,000 in stock options – a pretty lucrative deal then. However, the Pipers later disbanded after an ABL league merger with the NBA, sending Lucas to play his official rookie season for the Cincinnati Royals.

Over 60 years later, another lucrative deal involving Lucas has occurred, as The Columbus Dispatch's Rob Oller reported the Ohio State men's basketball legend had his Topps NBA “rookie” card sell for $24,000 more than Lucas' contract with the Pipers/Royals: $84,000 at the PWCC Marketplace Weekly Auction on June 4.

Cincinnati Royals forward Jerry Lucas (16) in action during his rookie year against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Cincinnati Gardens.

After the sale, a PWCC press release stated, "This auction sale shatters Lucas’ previous record, which was set at $8,511 in May. The reason for the record here is in large part due to scarcity in the quality of the card. This is one of only two examples of Lucas’ Topps rookie card to earn PSA’s Gem Mint 10 designation.”

I won't pretend to understand what PSA's Gem Mint 10 designation means, but that card must be rare and in fantastic condition for someone to bid $84,000 to win an auction. For comparison, most of Lucas' rookie cards cost between $11 and $4,000, depending on their condition. Congratulations to the winner for having more disposable income than I could ever hope to have. You are winning at life.

 

[brodybuck21]

Ohio State to Honor Men’s Basketball Legend Jerry Lucas with Statue Outside Value City Arena​

By Chase Brown on September 8, 2025 at 12:06 pm @chaseabrown__

• OSU Basketball

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Jerry Lucas will be immortalized outside Value City Arena this fall.
According to The Columbus Dispatch’s Adam Jardy, Ohio State will unveil a statue commemorating Lucas at 4 p.m. on Nov. 14. While Lucas’ No. 11 jersey hangs in the Value City Arena rafters along with John Havlicek (No. 5), Evan Turner (No. 21), Jim Jackson (No. 22) and Gary Bradds (No. 35), the Middletown, Ohio, native will be the first Ohio State men’s basketball player to receive a bronze sculpture on campus.
"I am so very, very, humbled and honored for that happening," Lucas told Jardy. "It might be the highlight of my entire career. It's so unique. You look at the history of the university, the history of sports at the university, and the very small number of people who have had that honor, it's incredible.
"When I first heard about it, I was so humbled. Jesse Owens. Woody Hayes. Archie Griffin. There's so few that have had that privilege and that honor. It's very, very touching."
A three-time All-American and two-time national player of the year, Lucas finished his career as Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer with 1,990 points across three seasons (freshmen were prohibited from playing with the varsity team during Lucas’ tenure with the Buckeyes). He’s now tied for third in all-time scoring with William Buford, both of whom trail Dennis Hopson’s 2,096 points and Herb Williams’ 2,011 points.
While Hopson and Williams passed him on the scoring list, no Buckeye has passed — or likely will pass — Lucas as Ohio State’s all-time leading rebounder, as Lucas recorded 1,411 rebounds in his career, an average of 17.2 rebounds per game. Lucas’ 78 double-doubles are also a program record that will likely withstand the test of time, as will his streak of 38 consecutive double-doubles.
Ohio State went 78-6 in Lucas’ three playing seasons, as the Buckeyes won the program’s only national championship in 1960 and finished as the national runner-up in 1961 and 1962.

Ohio State to Honor Men’s Basketball Legend Jerry Lucas with Statue Outside Value City Arena

Ohio State will honor Jerry Lucas with a statue outside Value City Arena this fall. Lucas joins Jesse Owens, Woody Hayes and Archie Griffin as Buckeyes with statues on campus.

www.elevenwarriors.com

 

[scarletngray]

What an honor! And well deserved as both a player and a person.

 

[Onebuckfan]

About time .Well deserved.

 

[Oh8ch]

This one brought tears to my eyes. I was a kid when OSU won the NC with Lucas and crew. Ever since he has been my unquestioned all time sports hero. I once stood next to him with a copy of Sports Illustrated with Lucas on the cover in my hand and couldn't bring myself to ask for his autograph. It was enough to shake his hand.

Glad I lived long enough that I can have my own picture taken next to his statue.

 

[ScriptOhio]

This one brought tears to my eyes. I was a kid when OSU won the NC with Lucas and crew. Ever since he has been my unquestioned all time sports hero. I once stood next to him with a copy of Sports Illustrated with Lucas on the cover in my hand and couldn't bring myself to ask for his autograph. It was enough to shake his hand.

Glad I lived long enough that I can have my own picture taken next to his statue.

Just sayin': Great move. Bjork finally done something right..... Ohio State has only won 1 national Championship and Jerry Lucas was the "main player"(i.e. starting 5 of Lucas, Havlicek, Siegfried, Roberts, and Nowell):

P.S.
1. The recruiting class of Lucas, Nowell, Havlicek, Knight, and Gary Gearhart was probably Ohio State's all time best. They are the only class that won a Natty (and finished runner up twice).
2. Bob Knight is #24