(670 The Score) Bulls television play-by-play man Neil Funk will retire at the end of the 2019-'20 season, the team announced Wednesday.
"After 43 years calling NBA games, 28 of those with the Chicago Bulls, it is time to step aside," Funk said in a statement. "I want to give a special thanks to Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf for allowing me and my family to be a part of the best franchise in sports. I also want to thank Bulls fans around the world for being so gracious and supportive. Thanks for the great ride."
Funk will continue to call Bulls' games this season, including all of the preseason and regular-season home games. He'll have a reduced schedule for road games, with replacements filling in here and there much like last season.
"Neil has been the voice of five of the six Bulls Championships, and his play-by-play will be forever linked to three decades of storied Chicago Bulls basketball," chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "Not only has Neil called games for some of the NBA's greatest players, but he has had a career that makes him one of the NBA's most trusted broadcasters of all time. We thank Neil for his contributions that have consistently made our broadcasts among the best in the league, and wish him and his family the very best."
Funk began his broadcasting career in 1971, announcing University of Illinois basketball and football games. His first NBA gig came in 1976-'77, when he broadcast Philadelphia 76ers games on WIBG Radio. He later called Kings games when the franchise was in Kansas City, returned to the 76ers' broadcast from 1982-'89 and then handled Nets play-by-play duties on WNBC and WNEW for three seasons before joining the Bulls.
The Bulls will celebrate Funk with in-game and on-air features throughout the course of this upcoming season.
"Neil's tremendous NBA broadcasting career spans nearly five decades, and we have been fortunate to be a part of it for the past 28 years," Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. "Whether listening to the radio or watching on TV, Bulls fans have always been able to count on Neil and his signature phrases to capture the excitement of the Chicago Stadium, the United Center and any road arena. We greatly appreciate everything that he has done for the team and look forward to celebrating his accomplishments during his final season."
