Hubie Brown has said goodbye to basketball after a decades-long career.
On Sunday, Feb. 9, the basketball analyst covered the last game of his career when the Milwaukee Bucks played against the Philadelphia 76ers at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis.
After the Bucks won 135-127, Brown was presented with the game ball and handshakes from players of both teams.
When asked by play-by-play man Mike Breen how he felt about ending his basketball career with an overwhelming amount of respect from fans and players, Brown thanked those he had crossed paths with.
“When you get into television, you’re in a whole new ball game. It’s a whole different life, and you work with wonderful people, and I always try to say this isn’t just a two-man act,” said Brown. “As you and I both know, we got the guys in the truck, the producers and directors. They’re taking care of an army of people, and we’ve got great television.”
The sportscaster then reflected on the different passions he’s had within basketball.
Brown’s first NBA coaching job was a two-season stint as an assistant with the Bucks on Larry Costello’s staff that began in 1972, the Associated Press reports.
Hubie Brown is honored during the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks on February 9, 2025.
Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty
Brown’s head coaching career began with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels from 1974 to 1976, where he won a title in 1975. In 1976, he headed to the NBA to coach the Atlanta Hawks through 1981. From 1982 to 1987, he coached with the New York Knicks and spent time with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002 to 2005.
Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in 1978 and 2004. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. During his 35 years as a national TV and radio analyst, Brown covered 18 NBA Finals, per the Associated Press.
“I have so many things to be thankful for, but my family and I can never thank everyone enough. We just want to send them the love that I’ve seen today right back with a big hug. It was a fantastic ride,” said Brown.
He ended by saying that it was a “wonderful day” for his family who were all in attendance at the game.
“I love you all and thank you for the opportunity from management,” Brown said, before a final video packaged aired honoring him as the broadcast came to an end.
The basketball world has all responded to Brown’s final broadcast, including Lebron James, who wrote on X, “HUBIE BROWN THE 🐐!!!!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🫡.”
“That was one of my real first, real cool ‘welcome to the league’ experiences, was having him call one of my games and to see him in person, get to meet him, hearing he was a fan of me and my game, appreciated my game,” Bucks center Brook Lopez, who talked to Brown before Sunday’s game, said, per NBC.com. “He’s always had good tips for me. He’s still coaching, even though he’s commentating. It’s in his DNA and in his blood, trying to help players get better.”
