Loughery spent 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (1962–1973), almost nine of them with the Baltimore Bullets. He became player-coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973, when the team had a 4–47 record, replacing Roy Rubin. The team slightly improved under Loughery, posting a 5–26 record for the remainder of the season. Following the season, Loughery was replaced by Gene Shue.