Former NBA head coach Doug Moe passed away Tuesday at the age of 87, the Nuggets announced.
According to Mike Monroe and Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News, Moe had been battling an illness.
Moe’s playing career included time in Italy and the ABA from 1965 to 1972, but knee problems shortened his run on the court and ultimately steered him toward coaching. That’s where he made his mark.
He was hired as head coach of the Spurs in 1976 and spent four seasons there before becoming most closely associated with Denver. Moe coached the Nuggets from 1980-1990, overseeing one of the most entertaining eras in franchise history.
Known for his relentless, up-tempo style, Moe’s teams pushed pace and scoring to extremes. His 1981-82 Nuggets averaged a then-unthinkable 126.5 points per game, still the highest single-season scoring average in NBA history. That group remains the only team to score at least 100 points in all 82 regular-season games.
Moe later coached the 76ers and returned to Denver in advisory and assistant roles before retiring. He finished his NBA head coaching career with a 628-529 regular-season record and was named Coach of the Year in 1988.
“Coach Moe was a one-of-a-kind leader and person,” the Nuggets said in a statement. “He will forever be loved and remembered by Nuggets fans.”
Our condolences to all who knew and loved him.
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