DENVER -- Doug Moe, the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets history, was honored at halftime of Thursday night's game against Detroit.

A banner bearing his name and the number 432 was hoisted to the roof of Pepsi Center.

Moe went 432-357 in 10 seasons as the Nuggets head coach (1980-90), leading the team to nine straight postseason appearances and two Midwest Division titles, including a franchise record 54 wins in 1987-88 -- the same year he was named the NBA's coach of the year.

His fast-paced teams led the NBA in scoring six times.

Moe had a 628-529 record in a 15-year NBA coaching career that began in San Antonio and concluded with Philadelphia in 1992-93.

Moe, 64, currently is a coaching consultant for the Nuggets.

Thursday's tribute included videotaped messages from Philadelphia 76ers coach Larry Brown, Kansas coach Roy Williams and Indiana Pacers president Donnie Walsh.

NBA commissioner David Stern issued a statement calling the unfailingly quotable Moe "one of the great characters in the history of our league. Over the course of his 20-year professional career, Doug served as a pioneer when he played in the ABA and then developed into one of the NBA's greatest coaches.''

Moe said he was "really blessed. We had the greatest players here, and they were also my friends.''

Moe, who had a reputation for abusing his players verbally during games, noted he has a different relationship with one of his former players, Kiki Vandeweghe, who now is the Nuggets general manager.

"I have to be nice to Kiki,'' he said. "He hired me.''

When the banner bearing number 432 was unfurled, Moe said, "That number is my weight.''

The Nuggets also distributed 10,000 Doug Moe masks at the game.