Kevin Michael "Murph" Loughery (born March 28, 1940) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Loughery coached both Julius Erving and Michael Jordan.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 28, 1940 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 (Bronx, New York) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 1962: 2nd round, 11th overall pick |
| Selected by the Detroit Pistons | |
| Playing career | 1962–1973 |
| Position | Point guard / shooting guard |
| Number | 21, 52, 22 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1962–1963 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1963–1971 | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1971–1973 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| As coach: | |
| 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 and awards | |
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 at Basketball Reference | |
| Career coaching record | |
| ABA & NBA | 642–746 (.463) |
| Record at Basketball Reference | |
Career biography
editLoughery spent 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (1962–1973), almost nine of them with the Baltimore Bullets. He was drafted out of St. John's University by the Detroit Pistons in 1962, before going to the Bullets in 1963.[1][2]
Loughery credits former Bullets, and Naismith Hall of Fame, coach Bobby "Slick" Leonard with giving Loughery a chance to prove himself in the NBA.[3]
He was traded along with Fred Carter from the Bullets to the Philadelphia 76ers for Archie Clark, a 1973 second-round selection (19th overall–Louie Nelson) and cash on October 17, 1971.[4][5] His head coaching career began when he replaced Roy Rubin as player-coach of a 76ers team that was 4–47 on January 23, 1973.[6] 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.[7] 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 by Gene Shue on June 15, 1973.[8]
Instead in the meantime, he effectively retired as an active player when he accepted a five‐year contract as head coach of the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association (ABA) on April 26, 1973, succeeding Lou Carnesecca who had elected to return to St. John's University in a similar capacity.[9] With superstar Julius Erving, Loughery won two ABA championships in three seasons. 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 the Philadelphia 76ers due to financial struggles. The team would also move to New Jersey and become the New Jersey Nets. He was fired midway through the 1980–81 season and replaced by Bob MacKinnon.
Loughery was hired by the Atlanta Hawks the very next season and he guided them to two straight playoff appearances, including one with rookie Dominique Wilkins. He was fired once again after the 1982–83 season and replaced by Mike Fratello.
The next two seasons, Loughery coached the Chicago Bulls. In his second season with rookie Michael Jordan, the Bulls made the playoffs. In the book The Jordan Rules Michael 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. Loughery was fired for having "philosophical differences" with Jerry Krause.[10]
Loughery was a longtime on-and-off broadcaster for CBS Sports' coverage of the NBA throughout the '80s, calling regular season and late playoff games.
Loughery went to the Washington Bullets the next season as an assistant to Gene Shue. When Shue was fired with 13 games left in the 1985–86 season, Loughery guided the team to the playoffs and once again the next season. He was dismissed and replaced by Wes Unseld on January 3, 1988, as a result of the Bullets' 8–19 start.[11]
After working in broadcasting once again, doing part-time work for TBS and TNT, Loughery was hired by the Miami 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 and again in 1993–94.
Naismith Hall of Fame coach Larry 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.[12]
After his stint with the Heat, Loughery went back into broadcasting, first working with CNN/SI until 2002 when they folded.[13] Loughery, who at times contributed as a guest for ESPN Radio,[14] 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.[15]
As a coach, Loughery was also known for his animated interactions with the referees, and receiving technical fouls.[12] As of 2000, Loughery had the second most technical fouls in NBA history.[16] He was once given three technical fouls in a game by referee Richie Powers, contrary to NBA rules which only allowed for two. Powers also gave player Bernard King three technical fouls. The game was between the Sixers and the Nets, with Loughery coaching the Nets. After a 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 involving Eric Money, who had earlier played and scored for the Nets, and then later scored in the same (continued) game as a Sixer.[17]
During a game while playing for the Bullets, the Warriors hall of fame guard Guy Rodgers punched Loughery with such force that it caused a bridge to fly out of Loughery's mouth.[18] Loughery once played in a playoff series while recovering from four broken ribs and a punctured lung, initially wearing a steel jacket for protection.[19]
In 1997, Loughery was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.[1][20]
Career playing statistics
edit| 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 |
NBA
editSource[23]
Regular season
edit| 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 | |
Playoffs
edit| 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 | |
Head coaching record
editABA
edit| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Nets | 1973–74 | 84 | 55 | 29 | .655 | 1st in Eastern | 14 | 12 | 2 | .857 | Won ABA Finals |
| New York Nets | 1974–75 | 84 | 58 | 26 | .690 | 1st in Eastern | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | Lost Division semifinals |
| New York Nets | 1975–76 | 84 | 55 | 29 | .655 | 2nd | 13 | 8 | 5 | .615 | Won ABA Finals |
| Total | 252 | 168 | 84 | .667 | 32 | 21 | 11 | .656 | |||
NBA
edit| 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 |
| 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 in First 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 in First Round |
| ATL | 1982–83 | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 2nd in Central | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost in First 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 in First Round |
| WSH | 1985–86 | 13 | 7 | 6 | .538 | 3rd in Atlantic | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost in First Round |
| WSH | 1986–87 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 3rd in Atlantic | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost in First Round |
| WSH | 1987–88 | 27 | 8 | 19 | .296 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| MIA | 1991–92 | 82 | 38 | 44 | .463 | 4th in Atlantic | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost in First 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 in First Round |
| MIA | 1994–95 | 46 | 17 | 29 | .370 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 1136 | 474 | 662 | .417 | 27 | 6 | 21 | .222 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Kevin Loughery, 1997 NYC Basketball Hall of Famer". The NYC Basketball Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ "Kevin Loughery, Sports Reference". SRCBB.
- ^ "Remember the ABA: It's Loughery's foes who really are blue (by Dan Pattison)". www.remembertheaba.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ "76ers Deal Clark to Bullets For Loughery and Carter," The Associated Press (AP), Sunday, October 17, 1971. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ 1973 NBA Draft Pick Transactions, April 24 – Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "76ers Dismiss Rubin, Name Loughery Coach," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, January 23, 1973. Retrieved November 29, 2020
- ^ Harvin, Al. "People in Sports: Loughery Is Seeking Saint of 76ers," The New York Times, Thursday, January 25, 1973. Retrieved November 29, 2020
- ^ Keese, Parton. "People in Sports: Shue to 76ers," The New York Times, Saturday, June 16, 1973. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Chass, Murray. "Loughery Grabs a Plum: Five‐Year Net Contract," The New York Times, Friday, April 27, 1973. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Albeck Leaves Nets to Coach Bulls on the Day Before the NBA Draft". Los Angeles Times. June 18, 1985.
- ^ "Unseld Replaces Loughery," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, January 4, 1988. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Lincoln, Melissa Ludtke (January 8, 1979). "The Mouth That Roars". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Top South Florida News, Sports, Weather and Entertainment - South Florida Sun-Sentinel". June 3, 2002.
- ^ "Plentiful Point-Guard Crop Has Talent and Questions". Sfgate. June 26, 1999.
- ^ "A Special Tribute to Michael Jordan". July 10, 2012.
- ^ McPherson, Dave (May 2000). "SCREAM". Basketball Digest. 27 (7).
- ^ Quinanola, Derick (March 22, 2023). "The only NBA player to intentionally score for both teams in one game". ClutchPoints | Other News. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ McCallum, Jack (May 1, 1995). "Rod is watching". Sports Illustrated. 82 (17).
- ^ Gilbert, Bill (April 5, 1982). "Aspiring To Higher Things". Sports Illustrated. 56 (14).
- ^ "New inductees to NYC Basketball Hall of Fame". New York Amsterdam News. September 25, 1997.
- ^ "KEVIN LOUGHERY". bmoresportsnest. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ Lawrence, Mitch (November 3, 2012). "Former player, Nets coach Kevin Loughery reminisces on Brooklyn, compares ABA days of Julius Erving to NBA". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
- ^ "Kevin Loughery NBA playing stats". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 18, 2024.