LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Funeral services were pending today for Gene Shue, a five-time NBA All-Star who went on to have a 22-year coaching career capped by two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The NBA announced Shue's death at age 90 on Monday. The New York Times reported he died Sunday at his home in Marina del Rey.
``The NBA family mourns the passing of Gene Shue, a 5x NBA All-Star, 2x All-NBA selection and 2x NBA Coach of the Year,'' the NBA tweeted Monday.
``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.''
A native of Baltimore who played his college ball at the University of Maryland, Shue went on to play 10 seasons in the NBA as a point guard and shooting guard, with stints on the Philadelphia Warriors, New York Knicks, Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons and Baltimore Bullets.
He was an All-Star for five straight seasons with the Pistons.
Shue then embarked on a 22-year coaching career that included stops with the Baltimore Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, Washington Bullets and finally the Clippers again after they moved to Los Angeles.
He was twice the NBA's Coach of the Year -- in 1968-69 with the Baltimore Bullets and in 1981-82 after the franchise moved to Washington. He also led the 76ers to NBA Finals in 1976-77 but lost in six games to a Portland Trail Blazers team led by former UCLA star Bill Walton.
Shue ended his coaching days with the L.A. Clippers from 1987 to 1989, leading the team to a lowly 27-93 record before he was fired in January of 1989. He later served as general manager of the 76ers from 1990 to 1992 and then as a scout for the team.
His overall coaching record was 784-861.
``I've never had a perfect team, and I've always settled for something less,'' Shue said to the Boston Globe in 1985. ``My whole history involves taking weak teams and turning them around.''