Marv Albert broadcast the final game of his legendary career on Saturday night, and after the Bucks’ win over the Hawks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Albert went out with a fitting tribute from partner Reggie Miller and those left in the seats behind the broadcast location in Atlanta: a standing ovation.
Albert, who turned 80 last month, spent nearly 60 years behind the mic, starting as the play-by-play radio voice of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs (now the Mets) in 1962 while attending Syracuse University. A former Knicks ballboy while growing up in Brooklyn, he did his first Knicks game in January 1963 and then spent 37 years as a TV and radio voice of the team, later serving six years as a play-by-play man for the then-New Jersey Nets on YES as well.
Famous for his catchphrase “YESSSSSSS!” among other things, Albert also spent 30 years as a voice for the New York Rangers, and served stints in the booth for the New York Giants, the NFL (on NBC, CBS, and Westwood One Radio), MLB, NHL, NCAA basketball, and other select events, including boxing and the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Albert would also serve as the lead voice for the NBA on NBC and NBA on TNT from 1990 until this season, when he announced in May that he would be retiring. And, on his final game on TNT – ABC/ESPN will carry the NBA Finals – Marv was also given a verbal tribute from broadcast partner Miller, whose play as a Pacer against the Knicks was often a torment to Albert’s team in the 1990s.
“This is the end of an era…I’ve had the opportunity to be next to you for 15-plus years, and you called some of my best games when I played for the Pacers,” Miller said. “A lot of men and women have sat next to you, and you’ve gifted the game of basketball with your voice. Thank you, Marv.”
Miller then asked Albert what emotions were going through his head, to which Marv simply replied: “Thanks very much for the nice thoughts, and all that’s going through my mind is that I’m fortunate to be doing something I love for 55 years, and having a front row seat to some iconic moments in sports.”
Congratulations on a great career, Marv!
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