Nobody embodies an NBA lifer more than Hubie Brown does.
The longtime NBA broadcaster is calling his very last game on ESPN Sunday with the Bucks taking on the 76ers. He’s worked both in and around the league over the last 53 years as both a head coach and one of the best broadcasters we’ve ever seen.
That journey all comes to a triumphant end on Sunday with this one last game.
During the broadcast, though, this game became so much more than that. It wasn’t just the Bucks vs. 76ers. It became a celebration of Brown’s excellent and storied career.
Several people popped in during the broadcast to say a word to Hubie and congratulate him on an incredible career. One of them was NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, who had the pleasure of working NBA games with Brown from 2005 until 2016.
He stopped by the telecast on Sunday to say a quick word to Hubie and you could see the tears welling up in both of their eyes.
really cool moment during Hubie Brown’s last broadcast as his longtime partner Mike Tirico calls in with moist eyes to pay tribute
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) February 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Tirico, in particular, looked extremely emotional in this moment.
Mike Tirico on to pay tribute to Hubie Brown
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) February 9, 2025 at 2:33 PM
It’s nice to see Brown celebrated like this. He so deserves it. In a time when NBA coverage is so overwhelmingly (and, usually, unnecessarily) negative, Brown has remained a breath of fresh air by appreciating the game that he’s watching — even at 91 years old.
Thanks for everything, Hubie. Congrats on a fantastic career.
