Former NBA head coach Doug Moe passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87, the Nuggets confirmed (Twitter link). According to Mike Monroe and Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required), Moe had been battling an illness.
Moe, who played professionally in Italy and the ABA from 1965-72, had his career cut short by knee issues and became better known as a coach than a player. He was hired as the head coach of the Spurs in 1976 and spent four years in San Antonio before embarking on a lengthy stint as the head coach of the Nuggets (1980-1990).
Moe was hired as the Sixers‘ head coach in 1992 but was let go midway through his first season on the job. He later returned to Denver and served as a coaching consultant (2002-05) and assistant coach (2005-08) before calling it a career.
Known for his up-tempo, run-and-gun offense, Moe compiled a 628-529 (.543) regular season record as an NBA head coach and went 33-50 (.398) in the postseason. His 1981/82 Nuggets still hold several league records, including the highest scoring average for a single season (126.5 points per game). That Denver team is the only one in NBA history to score at least 100 points in all 82 regular season games.
Moe ranks 26th on the league’s all-time list of coaching wins, just behind Flip Saunders and Chuck Daly, and was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 1988 after leading the Nuggets to a 54-28 record, a 17-game improvement on the previous season.
“Coach Moe was a one of a kind leader and person who spearheaded one of the most successful and exciting decades in Nuggets history,” the Nuggets said in their statement today. “He will forever be loved and remembered by Nuggets fans and his banner commemorating his 432 career victories as head coach will hang in the rafters to forever honor his incredible legacy.
“The organization’s thoughts are with Doug’s wife Jane, his son David, and all of his family and loved ones who are hurting in this moment.”
We at Hoops Rumors echo that sentiment and send our condolences to Moe’s family and friends.
Rest in peace 432 🫶🏽 forever a nugget Doug
Doug Moe, straight shooter from Flatbush “ One of the biggest disappointments in my life was going into the NBA after the merger. The NBA was a rinky-dink league—listen, I’m very serious about this. The league was run like garbage. There was no camaraderie; a lot of the NBA guys were aloof and thought they were too good to practice or play hard. The NBA All-Star Games were nothing—guys didn’t even want to play in them and the fans could [sic] care less about the games“ RIP
A complete exaggeration. Games in Portland at the time you mention were so loud you couldn’t see; of course you couldn’t hear, but so loud you not so loud your vision got blurred. All that without a single sound not made ONLY by fans.
I loved the Doug Moe quote but I was in Seattle in the late 60’s/ early 70’s and maybe to young to notice.
Rest In Peace Coach Moe.
How could one help being entertained by Moe?!? I recall a game I attended in Portland where he ordered his team to completely stop playing any sort of defense toward the end of a game. The Nuggets defensive effort had been so atrocious that Moe gave up on his team and ordered them to stand flat footed. Yup, he threw them under the bus in a way that was breathtaking. The NBA fined him what was a hefty amount for the time (early 80’s). He was suspended for a couple of games too as I recall. Yes, no one ever through his team under the bus like Moe did that night, but as a guy in his mid-30’s at the time, I thought what he did made a statement. I was forever after a full blown Moe fan.
link to yardbarker.com
Just a Bklyn Kid ….. well done player 🙏
RIP Doug Moe .
his nugget teams were fun .. never played much defense.. helped make kiki and english stars
Loved his wide open offense and points on the board attitude…I forgot all about that…may Doug Moe Rest in Peace!