Gene Shue obit

Former NBA Coach of the Year winner Gene Shue dies at 90

The 2-time Coach of the Year took Washington and Philadelphia to The Finals in his career.

 

He was not on the list.

Gene Shue, who found success as a player, coach and executive in the NBA, has died. He was 90.

Shue spent 22 years as an NBA coach, played 10 seasons in the NBA and had 19 years of experience as an executive in the league, too. He was a five-time All-Star with Detroit Pistons (1957-62) and led the team to five straight playoff berths. Prior to his success with Detroit, he spent his first two NBA seasons with the Philadelphia Warriors and New York Knicks and struggled to find success at either stop.

As a coach, Shue was well-known for his mix of fundamentals and willingness to embrace new wrinkles in the game. When the 3-pointer was officially adopted by the NBA in the 1979-80 season, it was Shue’s Clippers that led the league in 3-point attempts (543), 3-pointers (177) and had the league leader in 3-pointers made (Brian Taylor, 90). Overall, he was 784-681 in the regular season and 33-47 in the playoffs as an NBA coach.

His willingness to take on challenging situations and turn them around was also a hallmark of his career and one for which he was rewarded. He was NBA coach of the year in 1968-69 after taking the Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards) from a 36-46 season to a 57-25 finish that season. He won it again in 1981-82 with the Bullets when they finished 43-39 after back-to-back 39-43 marks in 1979-80 and ’80-81.

Two years after his playing career ended in 1964, Shue began a 22-season long coaching career. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Bullets, compiling a 291-257 mark which included a run to the 1971 Finals (which Baltimore lost 4-0 to the upstart Milwaukee Bucks). He resigned after the 1972-73 season.

From there, Shue oversaw the start of one of the most successful eras in Philadelphia 76ers history as their coach. Although his debut season in Philadelphia ended with a 25-57 finish in 1973-74, he had the Sixers as a playoff team by 1975-76 behind talented guards Doug Collins and George McGinnis. The 1976-77 season saw Shue guide the Sixers — led by Julius Erving, Collins, McGinnis and others — to their first Finals in 10 seasons. Philadelphia took a 2-0 lead in those Finals, but lost four straight games to the youthful Portland Trail Blazers to lose the series.

Shue was fired six games into the 1977-78 season as the Sixers would go on to make three more Finals over the next six seasons and won the NBA title in 1983. After his stop with the Sixers, Shue coached the San Diego Clippers (now Los Angeles Clippers) from 1978-80, going 78-86, before heading back to the Bullets in 1980. In his second stint there, he went 231-248, made the playoffs three times, but only advanced out of the first round once and was fired in March of 1986.

He closed out his coaching career with another stop with the Clippers from 1987-89, amassing a 27-93 mark in 1 1/2 seasons of work before he was fired in January of 1989. After his coaching days were done, Shue served as GM of the 76ers from July, 1990 to May, 1992.

Peter Vecsey shared the news that Shue has died at age 90.

Gene Shue, 90, has died. A 5-time NBA all-star, twice coach of the year (twice lost Finals) he was an acquired taste whose always accessible company I enjoyed. Confident & conceited, with good reason, Gene could laugh at himself & often at what was written about him. God Bless!

As a coach, Shue was named NBA Coach of the Year twice — once with the Baltimore Bullets in 1969 and then again with the Washington Bullets in 1982. He later became the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers and had some issues with Charles Barkley. The Hall of Famer once called Shue a “clown” while trying to force a trade.

Shue played college ball at the University of Maryland. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1991. He and Mike D’Antoni are the only NBA coaches to win Coach of the Year twice and not be in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Shue played 10 seasons in the NBA, and was the third overall pick by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1954 after a stellar collegiate career at Maryland. He played six games with Philadelphia before he was sold to the New York Knicks, for whom he played from 1954-56 and again from 1962-63.

In between Knicks stints, Shue played for Fort Wayne before owner Fred Zollner moved the team to Detroit following the 1956-57 season.

Shue was an All-Star all five seasons he played in Detroit, averaging 22.8 points in 1959-60 and 22.6 and 6.8 assists in 1960-61. On some forgettable Pistons teams — they made the playoffs in Shue's five seasons, despite having a losing record each year — Shue was a star at point guard.

Every time he would score in Detroit, whether at Olympia Stadium or Cobo Arena, the public-address announcer would say, "Two for Shue!"

"“The Detroit Pistons are saddened by news of the passing of Gene Shue — a five-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA performer and member of the franchise’s 50th Anniversary All-Time team," the Pistons said in a statement. "During his tenure with the Pistons, he led the club in scoring once and finished second in his other four seasons.

"He was a great ambassador for the game and a great representative of the Pistons.

"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Shue family.”

After a brief stint with ESPN, Shue became general manager of the 76ers, with whom he famously feuded with star player Charles Barkley.

Shue was known for his temper. He took the game very seriously.

"If he lost a basketball game he wouldn't speak to anyone, even me," his former wife, Sandy, once told the Washington Post. "When we first began dating I really didn't like it."

The NBA said in a statement posted to Twitter: "Gene dedicated his life to the game and left an indelible mark as a player, head coach and executive. We extend our deepest condolences to the Shue family."

Shue, the godfather of former NBA player and executive Danny Ferry, is in the Maryland athletics Hall of Fame, but has missed out five times on the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ballot.

Details on funeral arrangements weren't immediately available. He lived his later years in California.