Doug Moe, Brooklyn-born NBA coaching legend, dead at 87

Legendary Denver Nuggets coach and Brooklyn native Doug Moe passed away at the age of 87 on Tuesday. Moe, who spent a decade coaching in Denver during the franchise’s most successful period, also had coaching stints in San Antonio and Philadelphia. Additionally, Moe had a successful playing career, earning three All-Star selections in the ABA from 1968 to 1970 and winning a championship with the Oakland Oaks in 1969.

Growing up in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, Moe often played basketball at Foster Park, where he honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of the game. In a 1984 article published by the New York Times, Moe credited his time playing basketball in Brooklyn for shaping his basketball knowledge.

During his tenure as head coach of the Denver Nuggets from 1980 to 1990, Moe won 432 games, setting a franchise record for most wins until Michael Malone surpassed it in 2024. Under Moe’s leadership, the Nuggets made the playoffs for nine consecutive years, solidifying his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in franchise history.

Moe’s coaching career began as an assistant under his former University of North Carolina teammate Larry Brown in 1972 with the ABA’s Carolina Cougars. He later went on to coach the San Antonio Spurs before taking the helm of the Nuggets.

After leaving the Nuggets in 1990, Moe had a brief coaching stint with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992. He later returned to Denver in the early 2000s as a special consultant and assistant coach from 2002 to 2008.

The Denver Nuggets organization paid tribute to Moe, describing him as a “one-of-a-kind leader” who spearheaded one of the most successful periods in the team’s history. Moe’s banner commemorating his 432 career victories as head coach will hang in the rafters as a lasting tribute to his incredible legacy.

Former Nuggets player Bill Hanzlik expressed his condolences, calling Moe one of the “Absolute Best” and remembering him fondly as a beloved figure in Denver basketball history. Moe’s impact on the game and his contributions to the Nuggets will be forever remembered by fans and the basketball community.