The 76ers selected Jackson in the first round, with the fourth overall pick, in the 1964 NBA draft.[7][12] He played eight seasons (1964–1972) with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. A 6-foot, 9-inch (2.06 m) power forward who played center occasionally. He played in the 1965 NBA All-Star Game.[13] After the season, he was named to the NBA's 1964–65 All-Rookie Team after averaging 14.8 points and 12.9 rebounds per game.[14]
A teammate of Wilt Chamberlain, Jackson was a starter on the 1966–67 Philadelphia championship team that ended the Boston Celtics' string of eight straight NBA championships. He scored 13 points and had 21 rebounds in the title-clinching game over the San Francisco Warriors in the 1967 NBA Finals.[15] After the 1968 season, the 76ers traded Chamberlain to the Lakers, and the 76ers moved Jackson back to center.[16] Before the 1969–70 season, Jackson defected to the Carolina Cougars of the rival American Basketball Association.[17] A few days later, he reneged on the agreement with Carolina, returning to the 76ers.[18][19] He missed time during the season with an Achilles injury and a collapsed lung.[20][21] Jackson continued to experience chronic injuries to his left foot, including a tendon and a toe bone. He retired after the 1971–72 season.[3]
Personal life and death
Jackson and his wife, Marva, were married for 57 years before his death.[22] After his retirement from basketball, they settled in Beaumont, Texas, Marva's hometown, in 1973.[23] He finished his degree at Pan American University and worked for the Beaumont Parks and Recreation Department starting in 1975.[3] He retired in 2002.[23] They had three children, all of whom played basketball at West Brook High School and collegiately.[23] Nicole and Andrea played for the University of North Texas and Lucious III played for Syracuse University.[23]
The 1990s all-female rock band Luscious Jackson chose their name as inspiration from Lucious Jackson.[23]
Jackson died from heart failure in Houston, Texas, on October 12, 2022, at the age of 80.[24]
