The basketball world is in mourning following the news that Doug Moe passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87.
A basketball guy through and through, Moe’s career in the sport began as a player. At the University of North Carolina, he was a two-time All-ACC player, averaging a double-double in both of his final two collegiate seasons.
Moe parlayed his college success into being a 2nd round pick in the 1961 NBA Draft. But he was involved in a point-shaving scandal during his college days that led to him being effectively blackballed by professional basketball leagues.
After spending some time playing overseas in Italy, Moe made his breakthrough in the ABA in 1967. He made three-consecutive All-Star teams and won the 1969 ABA Championship with the Oakland Oaks. But since his playing career began later than anticipated, Moe retired after the 1972 season and began what would be an illustrious coaching career.
Doug Moe was the Nuggets’ all-time wins leader, up until Mike Malone
He got his start in the ABA as an assistant coach for Basketball Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown. Moe then got his first head coaching gig with the San Antonio Spurs in 1976 following the NBA-ABA merger. The Spurs made the playoffs in each of his first three seasons there, but a rough fourth season led to his firing.
Moe landed on his feet, back with the Denver Nuggets, in 1980. Taking over for Donnie Walsh as the team’s head coach, Moe went on to win 432 games in Denver. The Nuggets made the playoffs in nine straight seasons under his watch, taking the NBA by storm with Moe’s patented run-and-gun offense. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1988.
No official cause of death has been revealed as of yet, but Nuggets analyst Bill Hanzlik, who broke the news, said that Moe “passed away peacefully holding the hand of his wife Jane Moe”. Moe is survived by his wife and son, David.
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