Doug Moe, the longtime Denver Nuggets coach who pioneered fast-paced offense, has passed away at 87.
Moe coached the Nuggets for 10 seasons, winning Coach of the Year honors in 1988 after guiding Denver to a 54-28 record. The Nuggets finished with a winning record in seven of Moe’s nine full seasons as head coach.
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) February 17, 2026
Moe also coached four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs from 1976 to 1980, finishing with a winning record in his first three seasons before being fired with the team at .500 in his final year in San Antonio.
Moe’s final head coaching season came with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992-93. Less than two months after he was hired, the Sixers traded star forward Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns. Moe was fired 56 games into the season with the Sixers’ record at 19-37. He returned to coaching in 2003, when he began a five-year run as an assistant to former Nuggets coach George Karl.
Doug Moe was my big brother. I am sad today. I will miss him.
Love you forever Doug. ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/Emc8Iik8xD
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) February 17, 2026
Under Moe’s guidance, the Nuggets led the NBA in scoring in five consecutive seasons. In addition to participating in the highest-scoring game in NBA history, Moe’s Nuggets hold NBA records for the most points per game in a season (126.48 in 1981-82), the most consecutive games with at least 100 points (136) and are the only team to score 100 points or more in all 82 games (1981-82).
Moe coached George Gervin, who won three scoring titles under Moe with the Spurs in the late ’70s, and Alex English, who won the 1982-83 scoring title and captured all eight of his All-Star selections under Moe. English, who played 10 of his 15 seasons under Moe in Denver, scored more points than any other player in the ’80s.
Moe played five ABA seasons with the New Orleans Buccaneers, Oakland Oaks, Carolina Cougars and Virginia Squires, earning All-Star honors in his first three seasons.