Why former Wolf Pack star Jarod Lucas chose to end his professional playing career and return to Reno
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Think back to the night of March 9, 2024.
Do you remember what you were doing? If not, that’s okay. It was almost two years ago.
Former Nevada Wolf Pack star basketball player Jarod Lucas remembers what he was doing.
The senior held his mom’s hand as he walked onto the Lawlor Events Center court for the final time as a player.
Lucas reflects back on that moment as his favorite memory in Reno, and one of the best memories of his entire life.
He’s back living in the Biggest Little City full time again.
But why?
“I love this place,” Lucas said. “I knew I was going to be back.”
Back sooner than he expected.
“I was waiting for something like this (interview opportunity) because nobody knows.”
Lucas, who has ties to the Hawaiian islands, thinks often of a memorable Hawaiian phrase.
“‘A Hui Hou’, which means ‘until we meet again in’”, he said.
In the Lucas house priorities go in this order: God then family. Jarod’s mom, Tina, was the leader of their house. She told her oldest son ‘dream the big dream’.
“I wouldn’t be in this situation today without her,” Jarod said.
A stellar rookie campaign with the Dallas Mavericks G League affiliate followed Jarod’s final season at Nevada.
“My goal this year was to make the NBA,” he said.
After a tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers the organization decided to go in a different direction. Alternatively, a ten-month commitment to a team overseas was too long for him. Jarod came home to Southern California and trained for a different opportunity.
One of those sessions he will never forget.
“As soon as I walk out of the gym my brother is right there in tears and he says ‘your mom is in ICU’”, Jarod remembered.
Tina Lucas had Stage 4 colorectal cancer.
“She was able to see me one last time,” Jarod said.
Just a few weeks prior Jarod and Tina spent time together in Spain. Everything was fine.
In July of 2025 Tina passed away. She was 56 years old.
“That really played a big role in how quickly life can be and how quickly things can change,” Jarod recalled.
Jarod’s priorities changed. He now valued being 500 miles from his dad and brother more than it ever had before.
The family wears green wristbands every day for Tina.
“Pretty much says ‘Tina, dream the big dream, A hui hou’”, said Jarod.
Today Jarod is dreaming the big dream as an assistant on Steve Alford’s coaching staff at Nevada, even when the biggest dream of playing in the NBA has been sidelined.
“I know (my mom) would be pretty happy with me being in this role,” Jarod said. “I think that was the closure I needed to accept (stepping away from my playing career). I’m fine with it. I’m in a place I love to be in, a coaching staff that I love, and a university that I love and I’d die for. I love the Silver and Blue,” said Jarod.
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