Hubie Brown

SI Staff | May 22, 2012

Hubie Brown /

Hubie Brown

Paul Benoit/AP; Courtesy of Niagara University

Few are more closely associated with the NBA than Hubie Brown, who remains a top broadcaster for ESPN at the age of 78. In this gallery, we take a look at the Basketball Hall of Famer over the years, starting with Brown pleading his case to the refs as the Knicks coach during a 1984 game against the Celtics.

Brown, then an assistant for the Bucks, calls a play during a 1974 game at the Mecca in Milwaukee.

Brown, now a coach for the Atlanta Hawks, stands in his locker room during a 1977 game against the Lakers.

As the head coach of the Hawks, Brown talks to his team during the 1978 NBA season.

Here's Brown working as a broadcaster for the USA Network in 1982.

Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Brown looks on from the Knicks sideline during a game against the Lakers at the Forum in 1985.

The bearded Brown on the sidelines of the Great Western Forum in 1987.

Magic Johnson speaks with then TNT commentators Brown and Verne Lundquist after a game against the Warriors in Jan. 1996. It was Johnson's first game back from his retirement.

Brown gives box-out instruction to WNBA player Rebecca Lobo during a clinic in Orlando in 1998.

Brown, now coaching the Grizzlies, expresses disbelief along with players Pau Gasol, middle, and Jason Williams, right, during a game against the Lakers in 2002.

Brown stands on the sideline during a Grizzlies game against Wizards in 2002.

Brown holds up his NBA Coach of the Year honors on April 21, 2004. At 70, and the oldest coach in the league, Brown wins the award after leading the Grizzlies to a team-record 50 wins and its first playoff berth.

Brown and broadcaster Al Michaels call the Lakers-Heat game for ABC on Christmas Day in 2005. It is the first game Brown covers for ABC after his resignation as Grizzlies coach.

Brown holds a jersey during a press conference naming him to the Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2005.

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (left) answers questions from Brown for ESPN Radio prior to Game Four of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Lakers. Right, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant talks to Brown prior to the same game.

Brown was honored on Nov. 26, 2010 in Memphis during a game between the Grizzlies and Warriors.

Published May 22, 2012

SI STAFF