Gene Shue
From Hoopedia
Eugene William "Gene" Shue (born December 18, 1931 in Baltimore, Maryland) is a former professional basketball player and coach. Shue spent played in the National Basketball Association for ten years. Shue's career years were spent with the Pistons organization.
Shue played at the University of Maryland and was the third player chosen in the 1954 NBA Draft, by the Philadelphia Warriors playing only 6 games before going to the New York Knicks.
In 1956-57 he played his first season (third season in the league) for the Fort Wayne Pistons. The franchise moved to Detroit the following season, and Shue blossomed. Shue was one of the top guards of the early days of the NBA. He is credited with inventing the "Spin Move," a 360-degree turn while changing hands. Shue was an NBA All-Star five consecutive times (1958-62). In 1959-60 he scoring 22.8 pts/game (6th most in the NBA) (1712 pts) and 5.5 rebounds/game leading the NBA in minutes (3338) and finishing second in free throw% (.872) getting named All-NBA First Team. The following year he may have had his most complete year ever averaging 4.3 rebounds/game, 6.8 assists/game (4th in the NBA) (530 assists also 4th) and 22.6 (10th most in the NBA) (1765 pts). He also marked his highest field goal% (.421) getting named All-NBA Second Team. The 1961-62 season was his last one as star player averaging 19.0 pts/game and 5.8 assists/game (5th in the NBA) (465 assists also 5th).
On August 29, 1962 - the Pistons traded Shue to the New York Knicks for Darrall Imhoff and cash. In 1963 Shue was traded along with Paul Hogue to the Baltimore Bullets for Bill McGill where he played his final season.
Coach
He spent 23 years as a Head Coach of three NBA teams the Baltimore Bullets (1966-73), the Philadelphia 76ers (1973-78), the San Diego Clippers (1978-80), the Washington Bullets (1980-86), and the Los Angeles Clippers (1987-89) posting a 784-861 (.477 winning%) record.
As the Baltimore Bullets coach he guided them to the NBA Finals in 1971 but got swept by the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Oscar Robertson Milwaukee Bucks. in 1977 as the Philadelphia 76ers coach he once again made the finals, but this time lost to the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers 4-2. (This series included the game after which Darryl "Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins ripped the toilet out of the floor in the locker room.) As a Head Coach, Gene Shue was named NBA Coach of the Year twice (1968-69 and 1981-82). Three times Shue's teams had the most wins in his conference and three more times they finished first in their divisions.
