Doug Moe, the rumpled, irreverent coach of the high-scoring Denver Nuggets, dies at 87
The NBA lost its most lovable eccentric and offensive innovator this week. Doug Moe, the disheveled mastermind behind the Denver Nuggets' high-octane teams of the 1980s, has died at the age of 87. Known as much for his messy suits and colorful vocabulary as for his basketball acumen, Moe transformed the Nuggets into the league’s most entertaining show, establishing a legacy of speed that predated the modern "pace and space" era by decades.
Moe’s philosophy was simple: run, pass, and shoot before the defense gets set. He famously disdained set plays, preferring a "passing game" that relied on player instincts and constant motion. This "organized chaos" produced some of the most prolific offenses in history. Under Moe, the Nuggets led the league in scoring six times. His 1981-82 squad averaged a staggering 126.5 points per game, a record that still stands. He was also the architect on the sideline for the highest-scoring game in NBA history, a 186-184 triple-overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons in 1983.
While his teams were often criticized for treating defense as an afterthought, Moe’s results were undeniable. He guided Denver to nine consecutive playoff appearances and the 1985 Western Conference Finals. In 1988, he was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Nuggets to a franchise-record 54 wins. He remained the winningest coach in Nuggets history with 432 victories until Michael Malone surpassed him in 2024.
Off the court, Moe was the antithesis of the corporate NBA coach. He rarely wore a tie, often looked like he had just rolled out of bed, and affectionately referred to his players as "stiffs." Yet, his honesty and humor made him beloved by stars like Alex English and Dan Issel. He was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, a fitting tribute to a man who did it his way.
Moe’s impact resonates in every fast break seen in today’s game. He proved that basketball could be loose, fun, and successful simultaneously. The "System" may have been improvised, but the legacy Doug Moe leaves behind is permanent.
Moe’s philosophy was simple: run, pass, and shoot before the defense gets set. He famously disdained set plays, preferring a "passing game" that relied on player instincts and constant motion. This "organized chaos" produced some of the most prolific offenses in history. Under Moe, the Nuggets led the league in scoring six times. His 1981-82 squad averaged a staggering 126.5 points per game, a record that still stands. He was also the architect on the sideline for the highest-scoring game in NBA history, a 186-184 triple-overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons in 1983.
While his teams were often criticized for treating defense as an afterthought, Moe’s results were undeniable. He guided Denver to nine consecutive playoff appearances and the 1985 Western Conference Finals. In 1988, he was named NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Nuggets to a franchise-record 54 wins. He remained the winningest coach in Nuggets history with 432 victories until Michael Malone surpassed him in 2024.
Off the court, Moe was the antithesis of the corporate NBA coach. He rarely wore a tie, often looked like he had just rolled out of bed, and affectionately referred to his players as "stiffs." Yet, his honesty and humor made him beloved by stars like Alex English and Dan Issel. He was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, a fitting tribute to a man who did it his way.
Moe’s impact resonates in every fast break seen in today’s game. He proved that basketball could be loose, fun, and successful simultaneously. The "System" may have been improvised, but the legacy Doug Moe leaves behind is permanent.
