The NBA world mourns Doug Moe, a colorful Nuggets coach who led Denver for a decade in the 1980s, known for a fast-paced, high-tempo offense and earning NBA Coach of the Year in 1988.

Moe’s coaching career spanned 15 seasons with the Nuggets, Spurs, and 76ers, posting a 628-529 record and leaving a lasting impact on how teams pace the game.

Tributes poured in from former players and colleagues, including Nuggets analyst Bill Hanzlik and former coach George Karl, who spoke of Moe as a big brother and mentor.

Moe died after battling illness, with Nuggets staff noting he passed peacefully holding his wife’s hand; his passing was announced by Hanzlik.

A two-time All-American at North Carolina and a two-time All-ACC selection, Moe’s early career was shaped by a college point-shaving scandal that temporarily derailed his NBA entry, though he was later cleared.

Moe was drafted in 1960 by the Detroit Pistons and later by the Chicago Packers, with his college scandal and subsequent paths leading him through Italy and the ABA before returning to coaching.

His playing career included an ABA title with the Oakland Oaks in 1969 and All-Star status, after which knee issues steered him toward coaching.

Growing up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, Moe credited his early years at Foster Park with shaping his basketball philosophy and connection to the game.

Moe’s career included stints in the Army and in Italy before transitioning to NBA coaching, and he is inducted into multiple halls of fame, including Colorado’s, for his contributions.

Forming a legacy in Nuggets history, Moe’s tenure is often cited as a peak era marked by a fast, passing-oriented offense that influenced future generations of coaches.

Moe is credited with revolutionizing the NBA’s passing game and popularizing a pace-and-space approach well before it became mainstream.

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