Hubie Brown Reflects on His Legendary Career and Final Broadcast

Hubie Brown is a unique and iconic figure in the world of basketball. A two-time NBA Coach of the Year and a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Brown’s career has spanned over six decades. His passion for the game has always been apparent, whether as a coach, analyst, or commentator.

As Brown prepares for his final broadcast—calling the upcoming 76ers vs. Bucks game on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN—he took the time to reflect on his life, career, and the principles of preparation and communication that have driven him throughout.

Team : Where did your passion for basketball come from?
Brown: It all started in high school at St. Mary of the Assumption in Elizabeth, New Jersey. We had one of the best teams in the state, and my senior year, we went undefeated, winning the city, county, and state championships.

I received a basketball scholarship to play at Niagara University, where I also played baseball. Basketball was our top sport there, too. After college, I played in the service at the Presidio in San Francisco and helped my team win the Sixth Army Tournament two years in a row.

We lost the All-Army finals the first year in overtime to Fort Dix. Throughout my career, I’ve had the fortune of playing at all levels, even going undefeated in grammar school with a 26-0 record.

Team : How did you develop your style as a teacher and communicator?
Brown: I spent nine years teaching in high school, coaching three sports, and teaching business law and consumer economics to seniors.

This teaching experience really helped me develop my communication skills. I also worked at the Five-Star Basketball Camp, one of the country’s top camps, which attracted high school All-Americans like Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Chris Mullin.

This exposure to great players and coaches helped shape my philosophy and communication skills. It was at this camp where I gained recognition as a teacher and was invited to speak at college coaching clinics.

Team : Why did you focus so much on conducting clinics?
Brown: It became a business for me, with invitations to camps up and down the Eastern Seaboard and into the South. I was paid to lecture at these camps, where I’d try to stand out and establish myself as a top clinician.

This helped me develop my own coaching philosophy, as the game was played differently in various regions of the country. It became a valuable educational experience for me. At night, the coaches would stay up until 2 a.m., talking about philosophies and strategies, which further expanded my knowledge of the game.

Team : Are there players you coached who you think would thrive in today’s more open, shooting-based game?
Brown: The game has changed drastically, from the 1950s when I played to today’s style of play. There are now things like a wider lane, no hand-checking, and no hard fouls.

But some of the players I coached would dominate in any era. I coached nine Hall of Fame players: Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bobby Dandridge, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Louis Dampier, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, and Pau Gasol.

These players were complete, and their ability to adapt to different times and dominate in their respective eras shows just how versatile and talented they were. Beyond their skills, it was their work habits, attitudes, and team-first mentality that made them truly stand out.

As Hubie Brown looks back on his storied career, it’s clear that his impact on the game extends far beyond just his wins and losses. His dedication to teaching, his passion for basketball, and his ability to adapt to the ever-evolving game have made him a beloved figure in the sport. Fans can look forward to his final broadcast this Sunday, a fitting send-off for one of the NBA’s greatest voices.