An ode to Hubie Brown …
Come on now, he’s one of the best NBA analysts we have seen and heard in this league. Now, what you’ve got to love is his enthusiasm for the basketball. Here’s a guy who will talk about modern-day X’s and O’s and give you a coaching clinic on how the game was played in the 1950s. Come on now, how much do we love hearing Hubie Brown call NBA games? Of course we do. He’s a Basketball Hall of Famer, one of the best this league has ever seen.
The cadence and style are imitable, but Hubie Brown is incomparable when it comes to basketball knowledge, enthusiasm, respect and longevity.
On Sunday, the 91-year-old Brown will call his final NBA game – the Philadelphia 76ers at the Milwaukee Bucks – alongside play-by-play voice Mike Breen.
“He’s had as much of an impact for NBA fans as any player or coach,” Breen told USA TODAY Sports. “I really believe nobody who’s ever walked on this planet has taught basketball more than Hubie has. He’s the foremost teacher of the game of basketball that’s ever been.”
If not a national treasure, Brown, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, is an NBA treasure.
Brown, who declined most requests for interviews leading up to his final broadcast, played basketball, coached basketball at the high school (starting in 1955!), college and professional levels and has spent the past 52 years involved in the NBA and ABA as a coach or announcer. Brown was a teen in the NBA’s first season in 1946, and he joined the NBA as an assistant coach for the Bucks in 1972.
“Nobody breaks down the finer points of basketball better than Hubie Brown. He is the ultimate teacher of the game and an iconic figure to generations of NBA fans. We congratulate Hubie on one of the most extraordinary careers in the history of the league.” – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
His first NBA head coaching job was with the Atlanta Hawks in 1976 after spending two seasons with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels. He also spent four-plus seasons with the New York Knicks who fired him amid a 4-12 start to the 1986-87 season. That’s when he began his TV career.
However, Brown wasn’t done coaching. The Memphis Grizzlies hired him in 2002 because of his ability to teach – and get this: he was NBA Coach of the Year in 1977-78 and 2003-04.
There are a couple of generations of NBA fans who only know Brown through TV announcing. He joined ABC/ESPN in 2004 and has called more than 600 games. He was the network’s TV or radio voice for 18 NBA Finals.
His ability to observe, break down the game, translate it and relay with his trademark delivery has resonated with viewers and colleagues.
“You can feel and hear it in his voice how much he loves the game,” Breen said. “He explained it where somebody who’s followed the league their whole life and somebody who just recently started watching could understand what he’s saying. He appealed to every type of NBA fan.
“And the best thing is he just never stated the obvious. He didn’t just tell you what you were seeing. He told you why you were seeing it, and he did it in such a knowledgeable way that you just felt like you were in class every time.”
Along with Mike Tirico and Dave Pasch, Breen has called the most games with Brown on ESPN/ABC and requested doing Brown’s final game.
“We are grateful for Hubie’s immeasurable contributions to ESPN. The credibility and authority he has brought has lifted our NBA coverage, as he’s educated and entertained fans through his unmistakable style. With six decades in the sport between coaching and broadcasting, perhaps no one has ever been more devoted to the game of basketball than Hubie, and we’re excited to celebrate him as he so richly deserves on February 9.” – ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro
Brown started coaching in the 1950s when the game was played dramatically differently. He stayed up to date with the style of the time, avoiding stale tropes about how the game used to be played.
“I don’t ever remember him saying, ‘Back in the sixties, they did this better,’ ” Breen said. “All he did was appreciate the work and the commitment of the current players and the current coaches. He knew how hard it was to succeed in the league, no matter what type of style was the current style. He knew how difficult it was to be the best in the world, playing against the best in the world and trying to win. He never took that for granted.
‘And he never ever thought one way was better than another way. And again, that’s just because of his love (of) the game – the competition, the strategy, the individual talent and thinking the game. It was all just part of what made it so great.”
Announcing crews meet with the head coaches before tip to discuss game plans. The information gathered helps them provide insight during the broadcast. Breen cherishes those meetings.
“It was one of the great parts of the job because you’d go into some of these meetings and you could tell the coach might be a little intimidated and nervous because he’s got to talk basketball with Hubie Brown,” Breen said. “And Hubie was very direct. He had his specific questions, and the coaches could tell by the questions, ‘Oh my goodness, he knows my team as well as I do.’ It was fascinating to see the respect that they had for him and the players, too.”
Breen recalled doing a game last season between New York and San Antonio. It had been a while since Brown had called a Spurs game.
“Gregg Popovich comes into the room, and they hadn’t seen each other in several years, and the two of them embraced,” Breen said. “We’ve got tears in our eyes, these two men – giants of the game – having this beautiful, warm embrace that lasted a good long time. It was something I’ll never forget. I still get choked up when I think about it.”
“Hubie Brown means everything to basketball – and he’s meant everything to those of us who have had the privilege to call him a colleague and a friend. Being in the presence of basketball greatness can be intimidating, but because of Hubie’s love for the game and his willingness to share it with anyone who wants to learn, working with him has been one of the highlights of my career. Hubie IS hoops. I can’t think of one without the other.” – ESPN reporter Lisa Salters
Brown wants as little fanfare as possible Sunday, and Breen will accommodate to a degree.
“I promised him we would analyze the game. He can analyze the game,” Breen said. “We’ll talk about all the things the Bucks and Sixers are doing right and doing wrong because that’s all he wants. He’s not interested in having people honor him. …
“But I also said to him, ‘Listen, you’re just going to have to deal with it because everybody needs to let you know how much they love you.’ So, he’s prepared for that.”
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt
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