The Portland Trail Blazers have named forward Toumani Camara as the recipient of the 2023-24 Maurice Lucas Award, the team announced today.

The annual award was created in 2010-11 to honor the Blazers player who best represents the indomitable spirit of Maurice Lucas through his contributions on and off the court, as well as in support of his teammates and the organization. In recognition of the award, the Blazers will make a $5,000 donation to a nonprofit of Camara’s choice.

“Toumani embodies high character and unabashed toughness on and off the court that Rip City has come to love,” said Blazers GM Joe Cronin. “We are proud to name Toumani the recipient of the Maurice Lucas Award this season as he has only just begun to make his bigger than life impact on the Portland community.”

Former Blazers All-Star Maurice Lucas passed away on October 31, 2010 at the age of 58. A beloved member of the franchise and the community, “The Enforcer” was a central figure on the Blazers' 1976-77 NBA Championship team. The team honored Lucas by retiring his uniform number (No. 20) on November 4, 1988.

Lucas averaged 15.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.72 blocked shots over five seasons (1976-80, 1987-88) with the Blazers. During Portland's 1976-77 NBA Championship season, Lucas led the team in scoring (20.2), field goals made (8.0), free throws made (4.2), offensive rebounds (2.4) and minutes (36.2). Selected to the All-Star Game in three straight seasons from 1977-79,

Lucas is one of six three-time All-Stars in Blazers history (Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Clyde Drexler, Brandon Roy, Sidney Wicks). He served as an assistant coach with Portland for five seasons from 2005-10, and previously in 1988-89.

MAURICE LUCAS AWARD WINNERS

2023-24 – Toumani Camara

2022-23 – Jerami Grant

2021-22 – Anfernee Simons

2020-21 – Enes Kanter

2019-20 – Carmelo Anthony

2018-19 – Jusuf Nurkic

2017-18 – Evan Turner

2016-17 – Al-Farouq Aminu

Related Portland Trail Blazers NewsArticle continues below
The Houston Rockets invested heavily into Fred VanVleet during the 2023 offseason. Houston gave the point guard a three-year, $128 million deal in a move that was meant to turn the Rockets from a rebuilding team into a championship contending one. The signing did just that, as the Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season as the two-seed in a stacked Western Conference. VanVleet was the veteran presence and 3-point shooter that the team desperately needed, and he still might have a role with the Rockets going forward. Houston has a team option on his contract for next year, and they very well may pick it up. The Wichita State product reportedly wants to stay in Houston, but the point guard would be set to make over $44 million next season under his current contract. The Rockets and their guard recently pushed back the deadline on Houston's decision with VanVleet, and although reports suggest that they are interested in writing up a new, long-term deal, it isn't necessarily a guarantee that VanVleet will be playing for Houston next year. The Rockets blew him away with an offer he couldn't refuse back in 2023, and another team could so the same when/if he hits the open market this offseason. If VanVleet does become an unrestricted free agent, which teams outside of Houston would make the most sense for him to sign with? 1. Orlando Magic Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner recently signed big deals with the Orlando Magic, and Paolo Banchero will be getting a mega contract extension here soon. Because of that, the Magic no longer have money to blow like they have had in recent years. That will make a deal for another big ticket free agent hard to pull off, especially considering the team signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year. If Orlando can make the money work, though, then Fred VanVleet would be a great fit with the Magic. The Magic finished dead last in 3-point shooting this season, and VanVleet has made at least 2.5 deep balls per game in every season since 2018-19. VanVleet can hit shots form behind the arc off of the bounce or in catch-and-shoot situations. The Rockets were heavily reliant on his shooting expertise, so the guard would have plenty of familiarity getting up deep shots with high volume if he signed with the Magic. While undersized, VanVleet is a pesky defender, so he'd fit right in with a Magic team that has one of the best defensive units in the league. VanVleet could play alongside Suggs and give opposing teams fits. Ultimately, though, the Magic just need more shooting to get to the next level, and VanVleet is arguably the best shooter who could be available on the open market this offseason. 2. Brooklyn Nets A more realistic option for a VanVleet destination would be the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets are set up to have the most cap space this offseason, and they have a major need at point guard. With D'Angelo Russell and De'Anthony Melton hitting free agency this offseason, the Nets don't have a true point guard under contract for next season. Brooklyn needs to spend big this offseason, and they'd be smart to offer VanVleet a contract big enough that he'd have no choice but to leave Houston. VanVleet averaged 14.1 points per game last season, which was his lowest mark since 2018-19. He is trending the wrong way, but he still has enough left in the tank to give the Nets a few good seasons. 3. Portland Trail Blazers In the same way that the Rockets were looking to take the next step in 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers could use VanVleet's presence to get over the hump. The Trail Blazers have plenty of big man depth, as centers Deandre Ayton, Donovan Clingan, Robert Williams, and Duop Death are all under contract next season. Portland also has a lot of wing depth. Deni Advija started to look like a star late this past season, Toumani Camara is an elite defender, Shaedon Sharpe is a freakish athlete, and Jerami Grant is a proven scorer. The team is thinner in the backcourt, though. Anfernee Simons is a solid scorer, but Scoot Henderson has looked like a fringe draft bust since being drafted third overall. Portland shouldn't give up on Henderson completely, but there wouldn't be any harm in signing another guard. Like the Magic, the Blazers were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA. VanVleet would improve that weakness, and in a stacked Western Conference, Portland needs all of the help they can get if they are to compete for a playoff spot.
Ranking 3 best Fred VanVleet free-agency destinations if he leaves Rockets
Ranking 5 best Darius Garland trade destinations if Cavs blow it up
Ranking 5 best Darius Garland trade destinations if Cavs blow it up

2015-16 – Ed Davis

2014-15 – LaMarcus Aldridge

2013-14 – Robin Lopez

2012-13 – Damian Lillard

2011-12 – Wesley Matthews

2010-11 – LaMarcus Aldridge

Toumani Camara shines in rookie season with Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) dunks against Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at State Farm Arena.
© Jordan Godfree-USA TODAY Sports

In his first season with the Blazers, Camara appeared in 70 games with 49 starts while averaging 7.5 points (45.0% FG, 33.7% 3-PT, 75.8 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Amongst all NBA rookies selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, Camara ranks first in steals per game (0.9), total rebounds (343), total assists (87) and in total steals (66) while ranked second in total points (527), total blocks (33) and in total three-point field goals made (58).  Camara is one of only two rookies this season who has recorded at least 350 points, 340 rebounds, 65 steals and 35 three-pointers made along with Victor Wembanyama.

Camara has been out of action since the end of March, when he left the Blazers' matchup with the Atlanta Hawks in the fourth quarter with a rib injury. Further testing showed that he has a fractured left rib and a small laceration in the kidney. Camara stayed in a hospital in Atlanta for further observation but was quickly released. He is expected to be ready for next season.

Camara has embraced the Portland community since arriving in the city after being acquired from the Phoeniz Suns with Deandre Ayton in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little. Throughout the season he has participated in numerous community events, including a Fred Meyer Season of Giving event where he spent time with a family from Self Enhancement Inc. for an afternoon of holiday shopping. Additionally, he taught the next generation of basketball players during a youth basketball clinic in February and enjoyed a visit to the Blazers Boys & Girls Club where he engaged with youth through cookie decorating and NBA2K battles in November.