Vandeweghe started his rookie career with the Nuggets, during which Donnie Walsh was the coach, but soon Walsh resigned, passing on the coaching baton to his junior at UNC, Doug Moe (the UNC system has a substantial influence in the NBA).
In a few seasons with San Antonio, after a last-minute failure (in 1979 they were up 3:1 and overturned by the Bullets), Doug Moe brought his insane offense from Texas to the Colorado Plateau.
Doug Moe's coaching style was a perfect fit for Vandeweghe, all offense and no defense, no set plays, with practices that were three days on, two days off; Doug Moe himself was more passionate about golf, often said to be missing from the training ground, having probably gone off to play golf.
