Alex English spent 11 years in Denver (1979-90) averaging 25.9 points a game en route to Springfield, Mass. and a 1997 date with the Basketball Hall of Fame. He was eight-time NBA All-Star and his No. 2 jersey is one of only four retired by the Nuggets. He was with Doug Moe for his entire Nuggets tenure and they both departed after the 1989-90 season. English is now the director of player development for the Atlanta Hawks after spending last season as the head coach of the North Charleston Lowgators of the NBDL.

English was in Denver with his Hawks Tuesday night and he spoke with Nuggets.com's Jonathan Goldstein about his time with Doug in Denver.

Do you have a favorite Doug Moe story?
“Well, I mean I have so many. I guess the memories I have the most are – here’s a story. We went to Portland and we were getting our butts kicked and Doug just told us to ‘Just play, just go on out and play. Just shoot the ball every time you go down the floor.’ That’s it, just ‘Shoot it every time.’ And so we did and I think the league fined him for it. He told us to not play defense and just shoot the ball every time down the floor. That’s the one.”

What about that era in the NBA?
“Oh, it was great. That was basketball at its finest. Everybody really focused on playing basketball. And people talk about us not playing defense and the pace of the game, and all the points, but now the league is trying to get back to it, the excitement. That was exciting basketball and they’re getting back to it now. You see Sacramento, Orlando and L.A. It’s a good thing. We weren’t really the pioneers, but we were one of the best at it.”

Doug’s known for his temper and getting on to his players. Do you remember any time when he really lost it with you?
“Well, he did once. That was when he cursed me and I cursed him back. Guys in the locker room were like shocked because they had never heard me curse. And you know after that – always afterwards – we were fine and everything was back to normal.”

“Back then he was just a wild man. He just had his one sport jacket that he wore. His wardrobe has gotten better over the years. I think Jane (Doug’s wife) is dressing him. He looks better, he’s got a nice little leather coat, looks like he’s got his hair combed.”