Last Updated on April 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Gene Shue:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Eugene William Shue
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Deceased (born December 18, 1931 – died April 3, 2022, aged 90)
  • Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters)
  • Weight: 170 pounds (77 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 3 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 12 (US)
  • Number: 7, 21, 12, 22
  • Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard
  • High School: Towson Catholic High School (Towson, Maryland)
  • College: University of Maryland, College Park
  • NBA Draft: 1954 NBA Draft, 1st round (3rd overall pick) by the Philadelphia Warriors
  • Teams Played For:
    • Philadelphia Warriors (1954–1955)
    • New York Knicks (1955–1956)
    • Fort Wayne / Detroit Pistons (1956–1962)
    • Baltimore Bullets (1963)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Gene Shue’s family details, including children, are not widely documented.
  • Siblings: Information about siblings is not publicly available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Gene Shue’s player archetype was a crafty scoring playmaker, the kind of lead guard who blended shot creation with table-setting and gave an offense both control and spark. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, he relied more on balance, change of pace, and skill than brute force, and offensively his role was to handle the ball, manufacture points, and create for others from the backcourt. Defensively, he fit more as a competitive, intelligent guard who could hold his place within a team scheme than as a pure shutdown specialist. His overall play style was smooth, inventive, and attack-minded, built on guard craft, creativity, and the kind of polished perimeter game that helped make him one of the standout backcourt players of his era. (NBA)

Fun Facts

  • Gene Shue was a five-time NBA All-Star (1958–1962) and known for his flashy playmaking and scoring ability.
  • After his playing career, Shue became a successful coach in the NBA, leading teams like the Baltimore Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Diego Clippers.
  • He was a two-time NBA Coach of the Year (1969, 1982).

Sources:

NBA.com — Gene Shue | Guard | Detroit Pistons | NBA.com
Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame — Gene Shue
NBA.com — Former NBA Coach of the Year winner Gene Shue dies at 90