| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1940-03-28)March 28, 1940 (age 85) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Cardinal Hayes (The Bronx, New York) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1962: 2nd round, 11th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Detroit Pistons |
| Playing career | 1962–1973 |
| Position | Point guard /shooting guard |
| Number | 21, 52, 22 |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1962–1963 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1963–1971 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1971–1973 | Philadelphia 76ers |
Coaching | |
| 1973 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1973–1980 | New York / New Jersey Nets |
| 1981–1983 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1983–1985 | Chicago Bulls |
| 1986–1988 | Washington Bullets |
| 1992–1994 | Miami Heat |
| Career highlights | |
As coach:
| |
| Career playing statistics | |
| Points | 11,575 (15.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 2,254 (3.0 rpg) |
| Assists | 2,803 (3.7 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
| Career coaching record | |
| ABA & NBA | 642–746 (.463) |
| Record atBasketball Reference | |
Kevin Michael "Murph" Loughery (born March 28, 1940) is an American former professionalbasketball player and coach. Loughery coached bothJulius Erving andMichael Jordan, and gavePhil Jackson his first NBA coaching job. Loughery led five different teams to the NBA playoffs.
Loughery was born on March 28, 1940, inBrooklyn, New York.[1] His father was a police detective.[2] He attendedCardinal Hayes High School inThe Bronx, graduating in 1957.[3][4] In his senior year, Loughery was an All-City player at Cardinal Hayes, and most valuable player in the Bronx Catholic high school tournament, which his team won.[5][6]
Loughery originally attendedBoston College (BC), playing one year of college basketball for the Eagles (1958–59), where he averaged 16.8 points in 19 games. He grew homesick, however, and transferred toSt. John's University, playing basketball for two seasons (1960–62).[7][8] At St. John's he played under coachJoe Lapchick, who would be inducted into theNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1966.[9][10] Before accepting Loughery, Lapchick called BC coachDino Martin to see if he was agreeable to the transfer, and Martin confirmed Loughery was a good and cooperative boy who was simply anxious to come home.[8]
During his two years at St. John's, the team was 41–10. Loughery averaged 10.6 points in 25 games in 1960–61, and 15.5 points per game the next year. His teammates includedLeRoy Ellis, with whom he would play in theNational Basketball Association (NBA) for theBaltimore Bullets.[11] St. John's went to theNIT Tournament semifinals in 1962.[9] In the 1961–62 season, Ellis led theMetropolitan New York Conference in scoring and rebounding, and Loughery ranked 7th in points per game.[12]
Loughery's nickname during his playing days was "Murph".[13][14]
TheDetroit Pistons selected Loughery in the second round of the1962 NBA draft (13th overall).[15] Loughery spent 11 seasons in the NBA (1962–1973), playing for the Pistons, the Bullets, and thePhiladelphia 76ers, almost nine of them with the Bullets. After spending 1962–63 with the Pistons, Detroit traded him early in the 1963-64 season to the Bullets forLarry Staverman.[3][1] As a rookie in Detroit, he averaged less than 15 minutes a game, with a scoring average below seven points. He played in only one game for the Pistons the following season before the trade.[1]
Loughery credits former Bullets, andNaismith Hall of Fame, coachBobby "Slick" Leonard with giving Loughery a chance to prove himself in the NBA.[16][17] During his tenure with the Bullets, playing shooting guard, Loughery averaged 16.6 points and over 31 minutes per game.[1] In the 1965 playoffs against theSt. Louis Hawks, he averaged 21.8 points, 5.3rebounds and fourassists.[18]
His best scoring seasons came in 1968–69 (22.6) and 1969–70 (21.9),[1] teaming in Baltimore's backcourt with future Hall of FamerEarl Monroe.[19][20] Playing with two more future Hall of Famers,Wes Unseld[21] andGus Johnson,[22] his Bullets teams reached the playoffs from 1969 to 1971. In the 1969 playoffs against theNew York Knicks, he averaged 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists; and in the 1971 playoffs against the 76ers, he averaged 19.6 points and five assists.[23][24][25][26]
He was traded along withFred Carter from the Bullets to thePhiladelphia 76ers forArchie Clark, a1973 second-round selection (19th overall–Louie Nelson) and cash on October 17, 1971.[27][28] His head coaching career began when he replacedRoy Rubin asplayer-coach of a 76ers team that was 4–47 on January 23, 1973.[29] He received a player-coach contract which included an offer to continue in that capacity for two more years beyond the balance of that season.[30] The team slightly improved under Loughery, posting a 5–26 record for the remainder of the season. He declined the offer to stay with the 76ers and was eventually replaced byGene Shue on June 15, 1973.[31]
Instead, he effectively retired as an active player when he accepted a five‐year contract as head coach of theNew York Nets of theAmerican Basketball Association (ABA) on April 26, 1973, succeedingLou Carnesecca who had elected to return toSt. John's University in a similar capacity.[2] With superstarJulius Erving, Loughery won two ABA championships in three seasons.[32][33] After the ABA disbanded and the Nets joined the NBA, Loughery continued to coach the Nets for their first five seasons in the league. The team would struggle in their first couple of seasons without Erving, whose contract was sold to thePhiladelphia 76ers due to financial struggles. Loughery later said that Erving's performance againstDenver in the second ABA championship series they won was the best he had ever seen any basketball player ever play.[34]
The team would also move toNew Jersey and become theNew Jersey Nets.[35] He was fired midway through the 1980–81 season and replaced byBob MacKinnon. It has also been reported that he resigned over broad differences in philosophy with the owner.[36] MacKinnon was considered an interim head coach.[37] Loughery gave his former Bullets' nemesis, then current Nets player and future Hall of Fame coachPhil Jackson[38][39] his first job as an assistant coach, while Jackson was finishing out his playing career with the Nets.[40][41]
Loughery was hired by theAtlanta Hawks to replaceHubie Brown the very next season, retainingMike Fratello as an assistant coach. Loughery guided the Hawks to two straight playoff appearances, including one with rookieDominique Wilkins. He was fired once again after the 1982–83 season and replaced by Mike Fratello.[42][43][44][45][46]
The next two seasons, Loughery coached theChicago Bulls. In his second season, with rookieMichael Jordan on the team, the Bulls made the playoffs.[47] In the bookThe Jordan Rules, Jordan was quoted as saying that Loughery was the most fun coach he ever played for and that Loughery allowed him to free-lance and play the style he wanted. Jordan said in a 1992 interview that Loughery gave him the confidence to go out and play at the highest level by showing trust in Jordan during his rookie year.[48][full citation needed] Loughery was fired for having "philosophical differences" withJerry Krause, the Bulls vice president of operations who had functionally replacedRod Thorn, who earlier had been fired as general manager.[49][50]
Loughery went to theWashington Bullets the next season as an assistant toGene Shue. When Shue was fired with 13 games left in the 1985–86 season, Loughery guided the team to the playoffs, and did so once again the next season.[51][52] He was dismissed and replaced byWes Unseld on January 3, 1988, as a result of theBullets' 8–19 start.[53]
After working in broadcasting, doing part-time work forTBS andTNT, Loughery was hired by theMiami Heat as their head coach three years after they joined the league as an expansion team. Loughery guided the Heat to their first ever playoff appearance in 1991–92, and again in 1993–94.[54][55]
Naismith Hall of Fame coachLarry Brown once said the real key to Loughery's success as a coach was that he showed his players appreciation for the sacrifices they made as players.[56] As a coach, Loughery was also known for his animated interactions with the referees, and receivingtechnical fouls.[56] As of 2000, Loughery had the second most technical fouls in NBA history.[57]
Loughery was physically tough. During a game while playing for the Bullets,Warriors Hall of Fame guardGuy Rodgers punched Loughery with such force that it caused abridge to fly out of Loughery's mouth.[58] Loughery once played in a playoff series while recovering from four broken ribs and a punctured lung, initially wearing a steel jacket for protection.[59]
As the Nets coach, Loughery was once given three technical fouls in a game by refereeRichie Powers, contrary to NBA rules which only allowed for two. Powers also gave playerBernard King three technical fouls. The game was between the Sixers and the Nets, with Loughery coaching the Nets. After a successful protest, the game was replayed months later, from the point in time the technical fouls were assessed. Powers was given a multi-game suspension. In the interim, there had been a trade between the Sixers and the Nets involvingEric Money, who had earlier played and scored for the Nets, and then later scored in the same (continued) game as a Sixer.[60]
During the same season, Loughery had been suspended three games for physical contact with a referee, but had won the admiration of his players and owner throughout the year in leading a team that had been on the verge of bankruptcy.[61]
Loughery was a longtime on-and-off broadcaster forCBS Sports' coverage of the NBA throughout the '80s,[62] calling regular season and late playoff games.
After being fired as Washington's coach in January 1988, Loughery worked in broadcasting again, doing part-time work for TBS and TNT.
After his stint coaching the Heat, Loughery went back into broadcasting, first working with CNN/SI until 2002 when they folded.[63] Loughery, who at times contributed as a guest for ESPN Radio,[64] then joined ESPN Radio's broadcast of the 2002 NBA Finals as a guest, later being hired full-time by ESPN for their radio broadcasts of the NBA starting with the 2002–03 season.[65][66]
In 1997, Loughery was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.[3][67]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
Source[1]
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Detroit | 57 | 14.8 | .368 | .710 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 6.4 | |
| 1963–64 | Detroit | 1 | 2.0 | .250 | – | .0 | .0 | 2.0 | |
| 1963–64 | Baltimore | 65 | 22.4 | .375 | .712 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 9.2 | |
| 1964–65 | Baltimore | 80* | 30.2 | .424 | .754 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 12.8 | |
| 1965–66 | Baltimore | 74 | 33.2 | .416 | .830 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 18.2 | |
| 1966–67 | Baltimore | 76 | 33.9 | .398 | .825 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 18.2 | |
| 1967–68 | Baltimore | 77 | 29.8 | .406 | .778 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 15.9 | |
| 1968–69 | Baltimore | 80 | 39.2 | .438 | .803 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 22.6 | |
| 1969–70 | Baltimore | 55 | 37.0 | .441 | .849 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 21.9 | |
| 1970–71 | Baltimore | 82 | 27.6 | .403 | .831 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 15.1 | |
| 1971–72 | Baltimore | 2 | 21.0 | .235 | .625 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 6.5 | |
| 1971–72 | Philadelphia | 74 | 29 | 23.4 | .426 | .827 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 12.6 |
| 1972–73 | Philadelphia | 32 | 21 | 29.8 | .396 | .823 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 13.9 |
| Career | 755 | 50 | 29.4 | .413 | .803 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 15.3 | |
| Year | Team | GP | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Detroit | 2 | 13.0 | .100 | 1.000 | .0 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| 1965 | Baltimore | 10 | 29.7 | .387 | .895 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 14.0 |
| 1966 | Baltimore | 3 | 9.0 | .429 | .500 | .3 | .3 | 3.0 |
| 1969 | Baltimore | 4 | 43.3 | .367 | .657 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 20.3 |
| 1970 | Baltimore | 7 | 21.9 | .338 | .714 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 9.6 |
| 1971 | Baltimore | 17 | 29.4 | .396 | .753 | 2.2 | 3.1 | 13.6 |
| Career | 43 | 27.3 | .375 | .753 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 12.4 | |
| * | Record |
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI | 1972–73 | 31 | 5 | 26 | .161 | 4th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| New York Nets | 1973–74 | 84 | 55 | 29 | .655 | 1st in Eastern | 14 | 12 | 2 | .857 | WonABA Finals |
| New York Nets | 1974–75 | 84 | 58 | 26 | .690 | 1st in Eastern | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | LostDivision semifinals |
| New York Nets | 1975–76 | 84 | 55 | 29 | .655 | 2nd | 13 | 8 | 5 | .615 | WonABA Finals |
| NYN | 1976–77 | 82 | 22 | 60 | .268 | 5th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| NJN | 1977–78 | 82 | 24 | 58 | .293 | 5th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| NJN | 1978–79 | 82 | 37 | 45 | .451 | 3rd in Atlantic | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost inFirst Round |
| NJN | 1979–80 | 82 | 34 | 48 | .415 | 5th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| NJN | 1980–81 | 35 | 12 | 23 | .343 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| ATL | 1981–82 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 2nd in Central | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost inFirst Round |
| ATL | 1982–83 | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 2nd in Central | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost inFirst Round |
| CHI | 1983–84 | 82 | 27 | 55 | .329 | 5th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| CHI | 1984–85 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 3rd in Central | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost inFirst Round |
| WSH | 1985–86 | 13 | 7 | 6 | .538 | 3rd in Atlantic | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost inFirst Round |
| WSH | 1986–87 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 3rd in Atlantic | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost inFirst Round |
| WSH | 1987–88 | 27 | 8 | 19 | .296 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| MIA | 1991–92 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 4th in Atlantic | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost inFirst Round |
| MIA | 1992–93 | 82 | 36 | 46 | .439 | 5th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
| MIA | 1993–94 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 4th in Atlantic | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost inFirst Round |
| MIA | 1994–95 | 46 | 17 | 29 | .370 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career ABA | 252 | 168 | 84 | .667 | 32 | 21 | 11 | .656 | |||
| Career NBA | 1,136 | 474 | 662 | .417 | 27 | 6 | 21 | .222 | |||
| Career Total | 1,304 | 642 | 746 | .463 | 59 | 27 | 32 | .458 |