Longtime Bullets coach, former All-Star Gene Shue dies at 90
Former NBA All-Star and two-time Coach of the Year Gene Shue died on Monday.
He was 90.
We are saddened by the passing of former Bullets head coach, Gene Shue, a Baltimore native and the winningest coach in franchise history.
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) April 4, 2022
Shue's career with the franchise included:
◾ 522 wins (franchise record)
◾ Three 50-win seasons
◾ 1971 NBA Finals appearance
Shue played in the league from 1954-64 for the Philadelphia Warriors, New York Knicks, Fort Wayne and Detroit Pistons and the Baltimore Bullets. The five-time All-Star averaged 14.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists throughout his playing career in 699 games.
Shue then took over as head coach of the Bullets the year after he retired from playing, and spent seven seasons there while winning an Eastern Conference title and a Coach of the Year nod. Shue then jumped to both the Philadelphia 76ers, reaching the Finals with them in 1977, and then the San Diego Clippers before returning to the Bullets — who had since moved to Washington — in 1980. He won his second Coach of the Year award in his second year there, and stayed until 1986. Shue finished out his career with a pair of seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers and retired in 1989.
In total, Shue compiled a 784-861 overall coaching record. He’s still the winningest coach in Wizards franchise history.
The Detroit #Pistons are saddened by news of the passing of Gene Shue. pic.twitter.com/qsPD9LIXYc
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 4, 2022
Gene was a member of the 76ers family for many years as a coach & executive following a successful playing career.⁰
— x - Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) April 4, 2022
Coach Shue’s storied career included leading our 76-77 team to 50 wins & a Finals appearance.
The 76ers offer our sincerest condolences to the Shue family. https://t.co/cZbn0uxLiV