Players, Coaches, and Fans Pay Tribute to Hubie Brown as He Rides Off Into the Sunset
After dedicating more than a half-century of his life to basketball, Hubie Brown rode off into the sunset last weekend, calling one final NBA game.
The 91-year-old Brown capped off his illustrious career by serving as the color commentator for Sunday’s game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. When the final horn sounded, an emotional Brown was presented with the game ball.
He then took a moment to say his goodbyes.
HUBIE BROWN’S FINAL CALL 🥺🥺🥺
AN IMPACT ON THE GAME OF BASKETBALL THAT WILL LIVE ON FOREVER! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/pQikIAjCZW
— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025
“I have so many things to be thankful for, but my family and I can never thank everyone enough,” Brown said at the end of the telecast. “We just want to send them the love that I’ve seen today right back with a big hug. It was a fantastic ride.”
An NBA Legend
Hubie Brown has been involved in basketball since 1958, becoming one of the sport’s most respected figures. Brown joined ESPN in 2004 as a broadcaster after coaching the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Memphis Grizzlies.
Photo: ESPN
Last year, ESPN president Burke Magnus discussed the importance of letting Hubie call one more game and go out on top.
“We are going to give Hubie one last shot on a game. He deserves that. We think the world of him. I think it’s absolutely remarkable the level he still calls games at age 90-plus,” he said.
Photo: Athlon Sports
“I don’t think there’s a single human being who’s ever had a longer association with professional basketball.”
A Full-Circle Moment
Before Brown’s final game tipped off, players from both teams walked over to shake his hand. He also received a standing ovation in the first quarter, as a video tribute aired on the scoreboard.
Honored to have you call the last game of your legendary career here in Milwaukee, Hubie Brown! 💚 https://t.co/cbD7WMrFAU pic.twitter.com/BClSimsRxE
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 9, 2025
In a full-circle moment, Brown’s game came in Milwaukee, the home of his first NBA coaching job.
“When I came here to the Milwaukee Bucks and Larry Costello, I received a master’s degree and a doctorate’s degree in basketball in two years,” Brown said at the start of Sunday’s telecast.
In a particularly touching moment, Mike Breen, Brown’s broadcast partner on Sunday, called it the “ultimate honor” to work with the NBA luminary.
Noting that he spoke for other play-by-play broadcasters who worked with Brown over the years, Breen said, “You’ve been like a father to many of us, our NBA father.”
Mike Breen: “You’ve been like a father to many of us, our NBA father.”
Hubie Brown: “Can we pause as I have a tear here?”
All the feels on ABC for Hubie’s last game 🥺 pic.twitter.com/pj8VPPU79v
— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025
Tributes Poured In
After the game players from both teams paid tribute to Brown’s legendary career.
“I’m sure he’s seen so much growth and so much change not only in the game of basketball but in the league,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard said after the game.
“IT’S MANDATORY THAT WE PAY OUR RESPECT TO HIM.” 🗣️
Damian Lillard with a POWERFUL sentiment on the legendary Hubie Brown! 💯 pic.twitter.com/38NKWm74Oc
— NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025
“It’s come so far in a lot of ways, and I think that obviously you’re going to have the commissioners and you’re going to have players come along, but I think it’s the people who love on the game and love the league and the contributions that come from people like Hubie Brown is what has allowed it to become what it is, is what makes it special.”
Still a Coach at Heart
For Doc Rivers, Brown remains one of the first people he calls when he finds himself in need of council.
“He was one of my first calls all the time and still is when things are rough or I’m trying to figure out something to me that’s complicated,” Rivers said.
(Photo by Michael Martin/NBAE/ via Getty Images)
Bucks veteran Brook Lopez shared that sentiment, noting that Brown is “still coaching.”
“That was one of my real first, real cool ‘welcome to the league’ experiences, was having him call one of my games and to see him in person, get to meet him, hearing he was a fan of me and my game, appreciated my game,” Lopez said.
“He’s always had good tips for me. He’s still coaching, even though he’s commentating. It’s in his DNA and in his blood, trying to help players get better.”
ABC played clips from Brown’s career during the game’s commercial breaks. During one break, NBA commissioner Adam Silver offered his praise.
“You brought so much passion to every telecast,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said during one of those breaks. “You took great joy in teaching the finer points of basketball.”
Photo: Awful Announcing
Amazingly, Hubie Brown coached against or broadcast the games of 80% of the players in NBA history.
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