Hubie Brown acquired tributes from throughout the NBA neighborhood as the previous coach and longtime broadcaster headed into retirement after spending greater than half a century in professional basketball.
The 91-year-old Brown referred to as his closing sport Sunday because the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 135-127. He was awarded the sport ball after the ultimate horn sounded.
“I’ve so many issues to be pleased about, however my household and I can by no means thank everybody sufficient,” Brown mentioned on the finish of the telecast. “We simply wish to ship them the love that I’ve seen at this time proper again with a giant hug. It was a implausible experience.”
Gamers from each groups approached him earlier than the sport to shake his hand. He acquired a standing ovation throughout the opening timeout as a video honoring him aired on the Fiserv Discussion board scoreboard. Brown responded by blowing kisses to the group and mouthing “Thanks.”
Brown indicated he nearly cried as that video aired.
He thought-about it becoming that he was in Milwaukee for his closing sport as a broadcaster. His first NBA teaching job was as an assistant with the Bucks on Larry Costello’s workers, a two-season stint that started in 1972.
“After I got here right here to the Milwaukee Bucks and Larry Costello, I acquired a grasp’s diploma and a doctorate’s diploma in basketball in two years,” Brown mentioned in the beginning of Sunday’s telecast.
That launched an illustrious profession on the bench and behind a microphone.
Brown coached 15 seasons with the ABA’s Kentucky Colonels (1974-76) and NBA’s Atlanta Hawks (1976-81), New York Knicks (1982-87) and Memphis Grizzlies (2002-05). He received an ABA title with Kentucky in 1975 and was voted the NBA Coach of the 12 months in 1978 and 2004.
He spent 35 years as a nationwide TV and radio analyst, protecting 18 NBA Finals. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2005.
“I’m certain he’s seen a lot development and a lot change not solely within the sport of basketball however within the league,” Bucks guard Damian Lillard mentioned after the sport. “It’s come thus far in quite a lot of methods, and I feel that clearly you’re going to have the commissioners and also you’re going to have gamers come alongside, however I feel it’s the individuals who love on the sport and love the league and the contributions that come from individuals like Hubie Brown is what has allowed it to turn out to be what it’s, is what makes it particular.”
Mike Breen, the play-by-play broadcaster for Sunday’s sport, referred to as it the “final honor” to have Brown as a colleague. Breen spoke for different play-by-play broadcasters who labored alongside Brown by saying “you’ve been like a father to many people, our NBA father.”
“Might we pause, as I’ve a tear right here,” Brown replied.
ABC began its Sunday telecast by exhibiting footage of Brown’s very first NBA broadcast, a 1981 sport airing on USA Community. NBC’s Mike Tirico, Brown’s former broadcast associate, joined the telecast remotely to pay his respects late within the first quarter.
Throughout breaks within the telecast, ABC confirmed highlights from Brown’s teaching and broadcasting profession together with testimonials from varied NBA figures.
“You introduced a lot ardour to each telecast,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver mentioned throughout a kind of breaks. “You took nice pleasure in educating the finer factors of basketball.”
Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse introduced Brown with a tiny reproduction of the Liberty Bell within the inexperienced room earlier than the sport. Bucks assistants wore a T-shirt with the message “Thank You Hubie” and a coronary heart throughout pregame warmups.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned earlier than the sport that Brown stays one of many former coaches he typically seeks out for recommendation.
“He was one in all my first calls on a regular basis and nonetheless is when issues are tough or I’m making an attempt to determine one thing to me that’s sophisticated,” Rivers mentioned.
Rivers mentioned he typically sought Brown’s counsel in these conditions as a result of he figured there wasn’t any type of scenario that the longtime coach and broadcaster hadn’t encountered in some unspecified time in the future in over a half-century in skilled basketball.
Bucks veteran middle Brook Lopez made certain to speak to Brown earlier than the sport and say how a lot the previous coach and broadcaster had meant to the NBA.
“That was one in all my actual first, actual cool ‘welcome to the league’ experiences, was having him name one in all my video games and to see him in particular person, get to satisfy him, listening to he was a fan of me and my sport, appreciated my sport,” Lopez mentioned. “He’s all the time had good ideas for me. He’s nonetheless teaching, although he’s commentating. It’s in his DNA and in his blood, making an attempt to assist gamers get higher.”
Because the Bucks ready for Sunday’s sport, Rivers requested the youngest gamers on the roster what they knew about Brown. Once they weren’t conscious of Brown’s accomplishments, Rivers obtained Lopez to supply a primer.
“He gave a really spectacular historical past run on Hubie and even knew the explanation his final sport was in Milwaukee is as a result of that is the place it began, with him and Larry Costello,” Rivers mentioned.
Brown mentioned that is what made it so acceptable to complete his profession in Milwaukee.
“For me to finish it right here may be very significant as a result of I realized a lot right here,” Brown mentioned.
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