In 1968, Hubie Brown was just an assistant coach at William & Mary, teaching two elective basketball courses. One year. That’s all it was supposed to be. But fate had other plans. Over 55 years later, he’s still teaching the game—only now, the entire basketball world has been his classroom. At 91, the legendary broadcaster is preparing for his final call on Sunday. A voice that shaped generations will soon fall silent. His career? Colossal. His impact? Unmatched. But behind the celebrations, his personal life has been unraveling.
Hubie Brown‘s retirement isn’t just the end of an era. It is the closing of a chapter filled with heartbreak. Well, the legendary broadcaster didn’t just step away from the game—he stepped into a world without the two people he loved most. Losing his wife and son in the same year shattered him. Now, as he bids farewell to the microphone, the weight of that grief lingers. Every word he spoke carried pain. Every memory resurfaced the loss. For Hubie, this isn’t just retirement. It was sorrow, reflection, and an ache that even time can’t erase.
However, Hubie Brown hasn’t planned much beyond Sunday’s game- his final call. Maybe a podcast? Or, maybe a radio spot. But nothing is set in stone. Besides, travel takes its toll, especially with age. Yet, that’s not the hardest part. The past eight months have been crushing. First, on June 7, he lost Claire, his wife of 63 years. Then, in November, more heartbreak—his son, Brendan, just 54, was gone. Health complications, they said. But for Hubie, it was a loss too deep for words.
“Losing Claire and then Brendan,” Brown said, his voice trembling. “It’s been a tough couple of months.”
Well, it’s beyond imagination, the grief Hubie Brown lives in and will continue to live on. But then, it’s also the harsh truth of life. As the saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever.” Even Hubie’s magnificent career is coming to an end. And it’s just a matter of a couple of hours now. Soon, some new broadcaster will take his seat, take his mic, and make his words their own.
Talking further with The Athletic, the legend shared what it’s like being 91. Brown shared: “I’ve never awakened any day and said, ‘Boy, I’m glad I’m 91!’ I’ve never given age a major thought because the business still wanted me to be part of their presentation. This is all humbling.”
Meanwhile, Hubie Brown has seen it all. He coached Kareem and Oscar and battled against Kobe and LeBron. He called games with Walton on the court and Wembanyama making history. His career stretches from A.I.—the legend, Allen Iverson—to A.I.—the revolution, Artificial Intelligence. Through it all, his voice never faded. Generation after generation, he remained the heartbeat of the game.
And now when he’s ready for the next chapter, that is a simple yet impactful farewell- all anyone can ever say, is “What a legend!”
Hubie Brown’s final call in the NBA for Sunday’s Sixers vs. Bucks clash
“When I look back, it’s been the fastest 50 years of being in the NBA as a coach and as a television person,” the legendary Hubie Brown expressed. “On Sunday I want to be at the top of my game. You want to be able to do justice to the game itself, and then also for the players and coaches that are going to be in the game.”
For two decades, 21 years (to be precise), Hubie Brown has been the voice of ESPN’s NBA coverage. But his story runs deeper. Before ESPN, he called games for CBS Sports and TNT, his words painting the action. Yet, before the mic, there was the clipboard. He led the Hawks from 1976 to 1981. Then the Knicks from 1982 to 1987. Years later, he returned, guiding the Grizzlies from 2002 to 2004. Coaching, and broadcasting—two worlds, one legend.
At 91, Hubie Brown’s mind is still a playbook of precision. Maybe not as sharp as at 45, but sharp enough to break the game down like few can. His approach? Methodical as ever. “I always try to see both teams twice within seven days before I do the game,” he explained.
Starters, injuries, rotations—he studies it all. Then comes the strategy. “Especially in the last five minutes… side out-of-bounds plays and under out-of-bounds plays.” Once the ball tips, he watches how teams handle pressure. And the day before? He’s locked in on “the latest statistics on every facet of the game.” Time may slow the body, but not the mind of a legend.
Thus referring to the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers night as “a big game,” the forever-iconic Hubie Brown will call his final game. Surely, an emotional moment for the legend, his colleagues, and the organization he’s been a part of for years. And while he deals and heals with his personal losses, his impact in basketball will be cherished till the end of time (that is, if there are any!).
The post Hubie Brown Revisits Devastating Loss of Wife & Son in the Same Year as 21-Year ESPN Career Comes to an End appeared first on EssentiallySports.
