LeBron James, More Celebrate Hubie Brown After Legendary Broadcaster's Final NBA Game

LeBron James, More Celebrate Hubie Brown After Legendary Broadcaster’s Final NBA Game

Posted by author February 9, 2025 NBA

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Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Legendary broadcaster Hubie Brown called his final NBA game on Sunday, when the host Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 135-127.

NBA @NBA

HUBIE BROWN’S FINAL CALL 🥺🥺🥺
AN IMPACT ON THE GAME OF BASKETBALL THAT WILL LIVE ON FOREVER! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/pQikIAjCZW

NBA @NBA

💫 A LIFETIME IN THE NBA 💫
What a beautiful final sendoff for the LEGENDARY Hubie Brown! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Qc6uFZoV0J

ESPN @espn

“I used to lead the league in technicals every year, and you’re actually giving me a present?”
The refs gifted Hubie Brown with the game ball for his final broadcast, and Hubie had to heckle them one last time 🤣 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9VEwNDrZtp

The 91-year-old Brown, who landed in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (class of 2005) as a contributor, called NBA games for most of the past four-plus decades.

Bryan Fischer @BryanDFischer

Incredible stat from ESPN that Hubie Brown coached against or broadcasted games of 80% of the players in NBA history.

He’s one of the game’s great teachers, tutoring fans during his broadcast but also serving as a long-time counselor at coaching clinics.

NBA @NBA

TODAY ON ABC: LEGEND HUBIE BROWN CALLS HIS FINAL GAME
For more than a half-century, Hubie Brown has blessed the basketball world with unparalleled passion and knowledge of the game – first in the classroom as a teacher, then on the court as a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, and… pic.twitter.com/QQ4FVRiClI

NBA History @NBAHistory

1976: Hubie Brown teaching the no-look/behind-the-back pass at a basketball camp
Today, the basketball legend will call his last game. 👏
PHI/MIL, 2pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/quqv0fMh3X

On the sidelines, Brown was a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, winning the award with the 1977-78 Atlanta Hawks and 2003-04 Memphis Grizzlies. He’s just one of 11 coaches to win the award two or more times.

Brown joined ESPN in December 2004 remained there for over 20 years as a broadcaster. As he called his final game, many people, including Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, celebrated one of basketball’s iconic figures.

LeBron James @KingJames

HUBIE BROWN THE 🐐!!!!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🫡

Bucks point guard Damian Lillard also shouted out Brown in his postgame interview after dropping 43 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Bucks and 76ers also honored Brown as well.

NBA @NBA

“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

Philadelphia 76ers @sixers

after 50+ years in the NBA as broadcaster and coach, Hubie Brown will be calling his last game today.
congratulations on a legendary career! 👏 pic.twitter.com/8fB2bpisR7

Many others paid homage to Brown too.

Trill Withers @TylerIAm

I’ve said it before but Hubie Brown in part helped teach me how to watch basketball. What to watch for off ball, the ways you could impact a game without scoring a point, defensively what you can do with a great rim protector

Legion Hoops @LegionHoops

Hubie Brown is calling his final NBA game today 🥺
– 91 years old
– 2x Coach of the Year
– 20 years as ESPN commentator
An absolute LEGEND. pic.twitter.com/iiyecGrh7t

The Anonymous Nobody @el_budget

Hubie Brown like a human basketball encyclopedia. Dude was retired from coaching for years then decided “hey, I should go coach one of the worst organizations in the league.” He made the Grizzlies respectable then went back to calling games. Absolute legend

Leonard Miller’s Crossing @companeromarcus

if there’s one thing that the NBA media can learn from Hubie Brown it’s that he actually loves (rather than hates) the game

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson

Awesome to see all the love for Hubie Brown today. Helped so many people love the game even more with his passion and made us smarter too. The most important part of that announcing job IMO and he’s up there with anyone for it.
Here is Devin Booker from the other night on Hubie. https://t.co/krPS7HGQb0

Brendan Suhr @brendansuhr

ABC/ESPN tribute to Hubie Brown was one of Best things I’ve ever seen. He was my HS Coach and brought me to the Atlanta Hawks as his Assistant at 27 years old. Hubie was the greatest TEACHER that I’ve ever seen.

Tommy Beer @TommyBeer

Hubie Brown was born in 1933.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1955.
Was an assistant coach at Duke University from 1968-1972
Was an assistant coach on a Bucks teams featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson in 1972.
He coached the Kentucky Colonels to an ABA championship… pic.twitter.com/eIYOONn5di

Brian @BrianJNBA

Nobody on Earth loves basketball more than Hubie Brown. That’s all you could ever ask for

Dave Pasch @DavePasch

Honored to have shared a booth for many years with the legendary Hubie Brown. A father figure to so many of us blessed to know and work with him. Congrats on an amazing career!! pic.twitter.com/nNQBWaPJhM

Brent Barry @Barryathree

When you’re in a position to have gotten so much, the gift at this point is giving back. Thanks Coach Hubie Brown for all you have given to the game and what you have taught that will live on in this beautiful game. pic.twitter.com/f4dpJ55NrU

Kyle Means @meansmatters

Hubie Brown played a role in helping any true lover of basketball gain love and appreciation for the sport. Salute to him and hope he still has years of games to watch even if we can’t benefit from his wisdom.

Brendon Kleen @BrendonKleen14

Everyone arguing about what basketball broadcasting should be about just needs to watch Hubie Brown

patrick @muldowney

For pretty much every person that watches and tweets about basketball, we don’t know an NBA without Hubie Brown.
I don’t know how you can’t find inspiration in hearing how his friends, colleagues, partners and the players spoke of him today.
What a human.

And with that, one of the game’s great figures and humans signed off for the final time. Congratulations are in order to Brown, of course, on a sensational career in the sport.