Latest news with #BasketballHall
USA Today
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Michael Jordan is more likely to be like Tom Brady than Charles Barkley on NBC
Michael Jordan is more likely to be like Tom Brady than Charles Barkley on NBC One of the worst trappings of our culture is nostalgia, and how we ceaselessly appeal to it. Nostalgia is how real cultural growth never happens. Nostalgia is how we get stuck in the "good old days" of an interest without ever looking in the front view mirror. Nostalgia is how Disney initially tries some radical ideas in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, only to resurrect Emperor Palpatine (?) as a central piece of its nonsensical plot line with no shame in one of the biggest cinematic messes of all time. Enter NBC and its nostalgia-heavy plan for its upcoming NBA coverage, with the arguable G.O.A.T., Michael Jordan, now at the forefront. On Monday, the network announced that the six-time NBA champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP, and five-time MVP will be a "special contributor" when TV's most famous peacock restarts its once-legendary NBA broadcast coverage this coming fall. My pal Michael Sykes is understandably very excited about Jordan joining the live NBA television fray. Personally, I don't know that I can echo these reasonable sentiments that I imagine many other people are also considering about Jordan on NBC: Could Jordan host an alt-cast similar to ESPN's Manning cast? Just picture it: Michael Jordan shooting the breeze with the stars of today's game while watching hoops. That would be incredible. Can you imagine MJ chatting it up with Anthony Edwards? He'd probably just tell him his Adidas are trash and that he needs to switch companies ASAP. An MJ betting segment would be kind of wild considering the (debunked!) history there, but I can definitely see it happening. That might be fun. You know what else would be fun? A Charles Barkley link-up. This won't happen — Barkley will still be with the NBA on TNT crew next season. But (if they're friends again!) a Michael Jordan-Charles Barkley segment would feed families for generations. Let's really think about this for a second. Outside of his fiery Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech and the sublime perfection of The Last Dance, has Jordan ever been known to be controversial? Jordan has been in the public eye for over four decades. As a public figure, not a competitive basketball player, you can count on one hand the number of times he's said something that pushed any boundary, any at all. He has no meaningful social media presence (which is not necessarily a bad thing, mental health-wise, but is notable when many other legends do). He has seldom appeared on live television connected to the NBA. This is the same man who, of course, declined to directly involve himself in a Senate race in his native North Carolina because "Republicans buy sneakers, too." Ever since he became one of the most famous people on the planet, everything about Jordan's personal brand has been meticulously curated and finely combed. He does not and has not "stepped out of line" for a good reason. He's relentlessly protected his bottom line, and I don't blame him for that, but still. In other words: all-time greats like Jordan do not color outside the lines because they have calculated that they have a lot more to lose by doing so than their less-accomplished peers. Full stop. To be fair, we don't yet know exactly how Jordan will contribute to the new NBA on NBC. So, could I see Jordan showing more personality on live television (assuming he's not sending in pre-taped segments)? Perhaps. It'd be fun to see an icon like him let loose in the unfiltered chaos of 2025 sports media. But it does not feel likely. At all. I understand NBC is appealing to what some feel is the golden era of the NBA by bringing in the basketball superstar who became synonymous with its broadcasts. I know the network feels like Jordan is another huge draw in bringing back older hoops fans who have soured on the modern league lately (in good and bad faith, however). I would urge NBC to lean much more into earnestly selling the current generation of special hoopers like Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama because that is more sustainable long-term, but that's just me. That's because Jordan won't be doing the equivalent of "The Shrug" on live television again. We won't be getting something like "The Flu Game" or the "Double Nickel" with Marv Albert squealing in delight in the background. Jordan's iconic stature will always rest on his tremendous, memorable basketball accomplishments, not the mild-mannered public person he has routinely projected off the court. It's fun to dream about the loads of fun Jordan might have on NBC during the next NBA season. But that thought process is not grounded in reality.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown calls his last NBA game at 91 years old
Hubie Brown took the sideline to call his last NBA game on Sunday at 91 years old. A Basketball Hall of Famer, Brown has been a fixture on NBA sidelines either as a coach or a broadcaster since 1972 when he took his first NBA coaching job as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972. Fittingly, his final game on the mic on Sunday for ESPN on ABC was in Milwaukee as the Bucks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to the game, Brown reflected on the start of his broadcasting career in 1981 with USA Network. He said that he got a call from Bucks play-by-play man Eddie Doucette to gauge his interest in the job. He accepted and called games alongside Al Albert for USA, which was the NBA's first cable broadcasting partner. THE END OF AN ERA 💫Hubie Brown reflects on his start in broadcasting... to now today being the final chapter 🥺Don't miss Hubie's final call at 2pm/et on ABC! — NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025 When he took the broadcast table on Sunday, players from both teams including Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Bobby Portis Jr. and Brook Lopez stopped to shake Brown's hand and pay their respects. SO much respect for Hubie Brown from the Sixers/Bucks players 🫶Hubie's final call is UNDERWAY alongside Mike Breen on ABC! — NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025 Just before tip, Brown reflected on his broadcasting career alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Breen. Legendary NBA broadcaster Hubie Brown is calling his final game today for Breen and the ESPN on ABC broadcast opened with a tribute to Hubie, which included showing his first telecast. 🏀🎙️❤️ — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 9, 2025 "I was frightened to death," Brown said after ABC ran video from his first broadcast with USA. "Who am I to be doing an NBA game? Breen then asked him what was on his mind as he prepared to call his last game. Brown credited former Bucks coach Larry Costello with preparing him for his career as a coach and a broadcaster. "Well, first of all, it's 50 years that went by so fast. You turn around and you can't believe it. That's No. 1," Brown said. "When I came with the Milwaukee Bucks with Larry Costello, I received a master's degree and a doctorate's degree in basketball in two years. They sent me off, and I was fortunate enough to go to the ABA. But I owe it all to here." Throughout Sunday's broadcast, ABC paid tribute to Brown with archive footage from his coaching and broadcasting career. Brown spent two seasons as an assistant for Costello from 1972-74 coaching Bucks teams featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. After the Bucks went to the NBA finals in 1974, Brown left to take his first head coaching job with the ABA's Kentucky Colonels. After three seasons with the Colonels that included winning the 1975 ABA championship, Brown worked four seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. He coached the Hawks to three .500-plus seasons, but was fired in 1981 after his first losing campaign on the job. Thus launched his broadcasting career with USA, which lasted a single season before he was back on an NBA sideline as the head coach of the New York Knicks. Brown coached the Knicks from 1982 until he was dismissed after a 4-12 start in 1987. Then, his broadcasting career began in earnest. Known as a teacher of the game, Brown took his acumen back to the booth, where he became a fixture of NBA broadcasts calling games for CBS and then TNT until 2002. But he wasn't done coaching. Brown returned for the final time to an NBA sideline as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies for two-plus seasons from 2002-04. He then retired from coaching 12 games into the 2004-05 season, citing health issues at 71 years old. But he wasn't done with basketball. He joined ESPN and ABC after stepping down from the Grizzlies to work as a game analyst and has called games ever since, including alongside the network's top play-by-play announcers Breen and Al Michaels. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2005. He was a two-time NBA coach of the year, once each with the the Hawks and Grizzlies, and finished his career with a 528-559 record across the ABA and NBA. He's also a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame who spent time on college sidelines as an assistant with Duke and William & Mary. He played three seasons as a reserve from Niagara from 1952-55. But for multiple generations of fans, Brown is best known for the wisdom he imparted in the broadcast booth for NBA fans watching the game in their living rooms.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hall of Famer Hubie Brown calls his last NBA game at 91 years old
Hubie Brown took the sideline to call his last NBA game on Sunday at 91 years old. A Basketball Hall of Famer, Brown has been a fixture on NBA sidelines either as a coach or a broadcaster since 1972 when he took his first NBA coaching job as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972. Fittingly, his final game on the mic on Sunday for ESPN on ABC was in Milwaukee as the Bucks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to the game, Brown reflected on the start of his broadcasting career in 1981 with USA Network. He said that he got a call from Bucks play-by-play man Eddie Doucette to gauge his interest in the job. He accepted and called games alongside Al Albert for USA, which was the NBA's first cable broadcasting partner. THE END OF AN ERA 💫Hubie Brown reflects on his start in broadcasting... to now today being the final chapter 🥺Don't miss Hubie's final call at 2pm/et on ABC! — NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025 When he took the broadcast table on Sunday, players from both teams including Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Bobby Portis Jr. and Brook Lopez stopped to shake Brown's hand and pay their respects. SO much respect for Hubie Brown from the Sixers/Bucks players 🫶Hubie's final call is UNDERWAY alongside Mike Breen on ABC! — NBA (@NBA) February 9, 2025 Just before tip, Brown reflected on his broadcasting career alongside play-by-play announcer Mike Breen. Legendary NBA broadcaster Hubie Brown is calling his final game today for Breen and the ESPN on ABC broadcast opened with a tribute to Hubie, which included showing his first telecast. 🏀🎙️❤️ — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 9, 2025 "I was frightened to death," Brown said after ABC ran video from his first broadcast with USA. "Who am I to be doing an NBA game? Breen then asked him what was on his mind as he prepared to call his last game. Brown credited former Bucks coach Larry Costello with preparing him for his career as a coach and a broadcaster. "Well, first of all, it's 50 years that went by so fast. You turn around and you can't believe it. That's No. 1" Brown said. "When I came with the Milwaukee Bucks with Larry Costello, I received a master's degree and a doctorate's degree in basketball in two years. They sent me off, and I was fortunate enough to go to the ABA. But I owe it all to here." Throughout Sunday's broadcast, ABC paid tribute to Brown with archive footage from his coaching and broadcasting career. Brown spent two seasons as an assistant for Costello from 1972-74 coaching Bucks teams featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. After the Bucks went to the NBA finals in 1974, Brown left to take his first head coaching job with the ABA's Kentucky Colonels. After three seasons with the Colonels that included winning the 1975 ABA championship, Brown worked four seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. He coached the Hawks to three .500-plus seasons, but was fired in 1981 after his first losing campaign on the job. Thus launched his broadcasting career with USA, which lasted a single season before he was back on an NBA sideline as the head coach of the New York Knicks. Brown coached the Knicks from 1982 until he was dismissed after a 4-12 start in 1987. Then, his broadcasting career began in earnest. Known as a teacher of the game, Brown took his acumen back to the booth, where he became a fixture of NBA broadcasts calling games for CBS and then TNT until 2002. But he wasn't done coaching. Brown returned for the final time to an NBA sideline as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies for two-plus seasons from 2002-04. He then retired from coaching 12 games into the 2004-05 season,citing health issues at 71 years old. But he wasn't done with basketball. He joined ESPN and ABC after stepping down from the Grizzlies to work as a game analyst and has called games ever since, including alongside the network's top play-by-play announcers Breen and Al Michaels. Brown was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2005. He was a two-time NBA coach of the year, once each with the the Hawks and Grizzlies, and finished his career with a 528-559 record across the ABA and NBA. He's also a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame who spent time on college sidelines as an assistant with Duke and William & Mary. He played three seasons as a reserve from Niagara from 1952-55. But for multiple generations of fans, Brown is best known for the wisdom he imparted in the broadcast booth for NBA fans watching the game in their living rooms.
