Veteran Broadcaster Hubie Brown to Retire After Final ESPN Game

Hubie Brown, a legendary figure in professional basketball broadcasting and coaching, will make his final appearance as a commentator for ESPN this season. Burke Magnus, ESPN President, disclosed this on Thursday during the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina. «We are going to give Hubie one last shot on a game,» said Magnus. «He deserves that. We think the world of him. I think it is absolutely remarkable the level in which he still calls games at age 90-plus.»

Although the exact date for Brown’s final broadcast has yet to be confirmed, industry sources indicate that he will team up with long-time play-by-play announcer Mike Breen. ESPN has chosen to keep additional details under wraps, merely stating that Brown will be honored during a regular season game at some point this year.

Hubie Brown began his broadcasting career during the 1981-82 NBA season when he joined Al Albert on the USA Network. Prior to this, he had been let go as head coach of an NBA team. Over the years, Brown made several returns to coaching, including stints from 1982-1987 and 2002-2005, before transitioning full-time to a broadcasting career with CBS and later TNT when CBS no longer had NBA rights. He has been a familiar voice in professional basketball for nearly five decades.

This season, Brown has not called any games following personal tragedies, including the passing of his son, Brendan Brown, and his wife, Clair, earlier this year. Brendan, 54, was himself a former assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies and a broadcaster for the New York Knicks.

Despite these challenges, Brown’s passion for basketball remains undiminished. «I don’t think I’m 90 years old,» Brown expressed in an interview with The Athletic last year. «I never get up in the morning and say, ‘Geez, I’m 90 years old. What am I going to do today?’ It’s always the love of the game for me.»

ESPN/ABC play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch, who has worked with Brown, praised his unrelenting commitment to the sport. «Hubie is an incredible teammate,» Pasch said. «He treats me like I am part of his family, and that comes through in our communication on game day.» Pasch highlighted Brown’s attention to detail, noting his habit of reviewing game statistics during breaks, which provides valuable insights for their broadcasts.

Brown has been working with ESPN/ABC since 2004, covering about 15 games each season from 2020 to 2023. His contributions to basketball broadcasting have left a lasting legacy, further cemented by the upcoming tributes planned by ESPN.