Hubie Brown Bids Farewell: 91-Year-Old to Call Final NBA Game

In 1968, Hubie Brown took his first college coaching job. He thought he’d just be coaching basketball, but he quickly learned he’d also have to teach it—literally. As an assistant at William & Mary, he taught two elective basketball courses.

That one-year teaching gig turned out to be the start of something much bigger. Over the next five decades, Brown didn’t just coach teams—he taught the game to the world. Whether it was players, coaches, or fans watching from home, he had a way of breaking things down that made basketball easier to understand.

Now, at 91 years old, Brown is getting ready to call his last NBA game. He’ll be in the broadcast booth one final time this Sunday when the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Milwaukee Bucks on ABC. And in a fitting twist, it’ll be in Milwaukee, the same city where he got his first NBA coaching job as an assistant in 1972, working alongside legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson.

A Lifetime of Teaching

Brown has spent more than half a century talking about basketball, and his longtime broadcasting partner Mike Breen believes no one has taught more people about the game than he has.

“It’s not an exaggeration—Hubie has probably educated more people about basketball than anyone in history,” Breen said.

And it’s true. Whether he was coaching or calling games on TV, Brown always approached basketball the same way: with passion, deep analysis, and an ability to explain things in a way that made sense to everyone.

From the Sidelines to the Booth

Before he became a fan-favorite broadcaster, Brown made his name as a coach. He started at the high school and college level before jumping to the pros. He won an ABA championship with the Kentucky Colonels in 1975, then moved on to the NBA, coaching the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks.

But his career wasn’t just about coaching teams—it was about breaking down the game. That’s why, in 1981, TV networks came calling. Despite having no experience in broadcasting, Brown quickly became a natural. His ability to explain basketball like a coach made him one of the most respected voices in the sport.

Even though he returned to coaching in 2002 with the Memphis Grizzlies—winning NBA Coach of the Year in 2004—his voice was still synonymous with the game. Over the years, he called 18 NBA Finals across TV and radio, sharing his knowledge with millions of viewers.

Always Prepared

For all of his experience, Brown never took a single game for granted. His preparation was legendary. Before every broadcast, he’d study both teams in detail, watching at least two of their recent games and analyzing their plays, player tendencies, and coaching strategies.

And even after decades of broadcasting, he still got nervous before every game.

“You’re always nervous,” Brown admitted. “Because you want to paint the picture, you want to educate the fan, and you know it’s a team effort.”

Brown always saw broadcasting as a team job, much like coaching. He made sure to credit not just his co-commentators but also the directors and producers behind the scenes.

His attention to detail didn’t go unnoticed. Hall of Famer Bernard King, who played for Brown in New York, said he loved listening to him as a broadcaster because he explained the game differently than anyone else.

“He didn’t just talk—he taught,” King said. “He helped fans understand not just what happened, but why it happened.”

Iconic Catchphrases and Style

Over the years, Brown became known for his signature phrases. He called the lane “the painted area” and had a habit of using the phrase “you must” when giving strategic advice to teams.

Breen remembers another classic Brown moment:

“When he was really excited about a play, he’d say, ‘That’s it! That’s it! That’s it!’ And if he didn’t like what he saw, you could hear it in his voice immediately,” Breen said.

Brown’s love for coaching never left him, even when he was in the booth. He appreciated well-designed plays and always made sure to highlight great coaching moments during games.

“Good coaching deserves recognition,” Brown said. “When I see it, I want the fans to know about it.”

Source: Hubie Brown, 91, prepares to broadcast final NBA game

An Accidental Broadcaster

Believe it or not, Brown never planned on becoming a broadcaster. In 1981, a TV network approached him about working on NBA broadcasts, and he gave it a shot. It turned out to be a perfect fit.

After returning to coach the Knicks in 1982, he went back to TV in 1986 and never left—except for his brief return to coaching with Memphis in 2002.

Even in broadcasting, Brown was still a coach. Breen remembers how, in 2006, Brown helped him through his first NBA Finals broadcast. Breen was nervous, trying to follow instructions to keep things simple for first-time viewers.

During the first timeout, while the teams were in their huddles, Brown leaned over, grabbed Breen’s arm, and gave him some advice.

“He looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Just call the game the way you always call it, and we’ll be fine,’” Breen recalled. “That moment relaxed me completely.”

A Farewell After a Tough Year

This final broadcast will be emotional for Brown—not just because it’s his last game, but because the past year has been incredibly difficult for him. He lost both his wife and his son, making this transition even more bittersweet.

Breen wants to make sure Sunday’s broadcast gives Brown the tribute he deserves.

“Hubie doesn’t want a big farewell tour or constant praise,” Breen said. “But we want to let him do what he’s always done—analyze the game, teach the audience, and share his love for basketball. At the same time, we want to honor everything he’s given to the sport.”

As he calls his final game, Hubie Brown won’t just be saying goodbye to broadcasting—he’ll be closing the book on one of the greatest teaching careers in basketball history.
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