DETROIT — Long before entertaining several generations of Detroit Pistons fans with memorable catchphrases, George Blaha was a 10-year-old boy who spent countless nights listening to his favorite sportscasters on a radio in his Iowa bedroom.
While most listeners imagine the games in their minds, Blaha pictured what it would be like to be a sports broadcaster. Nearly five decades later, Blaha will receive the highest honor for basketball media. On Friday the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will present Blaha with the Curt Gowdy Electronic Media Award for 2025.
“My career has been what I hoped it would be; the man upstairs has been good to me,” Blaha told The Detroit News in June. When I got the job, I was like, ‘I don’t wanna lose this. And I’ve been lucky for 49 years.”
Blaha will be one of five recipients, joining Clark Kellogg, Michelle Smith, Jeff Twiss and Adrian Wojnarowski.
“The ownership, fan base, players and coaches have all made it possible for me to keep this job,” he said. “As the years have passed, it appears that the people at the Hall of Fame have come to recognize my work. You realize how blessed you have been.”
Blaha, dubbed “Voice of the Pistons,” began his broadcasting career during the 1976-77 season. In his first game the Pistons — led by Hall of Famer Bob Lanier — lost by one point (98-97) to the Washington Bullets. After the game, Blaha was so concerned about his performance that he ended up driving an hour in the wrong direction from his home in Lansing.
Blaha has since been behind the microphone for more than 3,700 regular-season games and over 260 playoff games, which includes witnessing the Pistons capturing three championship titles in 1989, 1990 and 2004. The upcoming 2025-26 season will mark Blaha’s 50th anniversary with the Pistons.
“What I would say to a young person who wants to do this is, don’t ever give up. The odds are always against you,” Blaha said. “I remember something Vince Scully said once, ‘If you can find something you love to do, you would never work another day in your life,’ and I haven’t really worked. It’s been an honor.”
Bickerstaff on Howard’s enshrinement
Dwight Howard will be one of two NBA legends inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. Much of Howard’s Hall of Fame career unfolded during his eight-year tenure with the Orlando Magic. The No. 1 pick of the 2004 NBA Draft rose to prominence in Orlando, where he received six of his eight All-Star selections and was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner (2009-11).
Howard played for six teams throughout his career. In 2013, he signed with the Houston Rockets, which gave coach J.B. Bickerstaff the opportunity to work alongside the star big man.
“Coaching him, you learned a lot because he saw the game through a lens that has helped me develop younger big men to try to emulate that,” Bickerstaff said. “He was so good defensively that you wanted your big men to play like he played and protect the paint.”
Howard worked alongside Bickerstaff throughout his three-year tenure in Houston. Due to injuries, Howard experienced a slight decline with the Rockets, but he still managed to maintain his dominance, averaging 16.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks.
“What was even more great about him was that he could challenge shots or be in the right spots that did not take him out of position to rebound the basketball,” Bickerstaff continued. “There are so many things that he did well.”
Bickerstaff served as an assistant under coach Kevin McHale during Howard’s first two seasons. In Howard’s third and final season, Bickerstaff took the helm as the Rockets’ interim coach following McHale’s firing during the 2015-16 season.
Bickerstaff received his first opportunity to serve as a head coach, leading Howard and James Harden to the playoffs during a challenging season.
“Dwight was one of the most dominant players this league has ever seen,” Bickerstaff said. “I think sometimes with how the back end of his career looked, people forget how good Dwight Howard really was. He was an island by himself defensively. He could completely change the game on the defensive end of the floor.”
Other members of 2025 Hall of Fame Class
Carmelo Anthony: If it weren’t for Joe Dumars’ decision to take Darko Miličić with the second pick of the 2003 NBA Draft, the Pistons would have had another inductee this weekend. The Denver Nuggets drafted Anthony with the No. 3 pick, and he went on to become one of the best players of his generation.
A 10-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2020, Anthony currently sits 12th on the league’s all-time scoring list (28,289 points). Before entering the NBA, Anthony led Syracuse to the national championship in 2003.
Micky Arison: Arison took ownership of the Miami Heat in 1995. Under his possession, the Heat went on to become one of the NBA’s most prestigious teams over the last 30 years. Miami has won three NBA titles (2006, 2012 and 2013), which ties the Heat with the Chicago Bulls for the third-most championships since Arison took ownership.
Sue Bird: One of the most decorated players in WNBA history, Bird began her career with the Seattle Storm in 2002. She played her entire 20-year career with Seattle, and currently holds the all-time league record for most career games (580) and minutes (18,080). Bird is a 13-time WNBA All-Star who won four championship titles.
Danny Crawford: A retired referee who officiated for 32 years, Crawford began his career in 1985 and has officiated over 2,000 regular-season games. In the postseason, Crawford oversaw over 300 playoff games, which include 30 NBA Finals contests.
Billy Donovan: Before starting his NBA coaching career, Donovan had a successful tenure at the University of Florida. He coached the Gators to back-to-back national titles (2006 and 2007). Donovan also registered over 500 victories as a collegiate coach, beginning at Marshall University.
Sylvia Fowles: Fowles played a vital role in helping the Minnesota Lynx establish a dynasty during the 2010s. She contributed to two of Minnesota’s four titles (2015 and 2017) during the decade and received Finals MVP for each championship. As an eight-time All-Star, Fowles won four Defensive Player of the Year awards (2011, 2013, 2016 and 2021).
Maya Moore: Moore played eight seasons in the league and built a resume to be in the WNBA’s GOAT conversation. She was at the helm of each of the Lynx’s four titles (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017) during the 2010s. Moore earned Finals MVP honors in 2013. A year later, she received her lone regular-season MVP award. In July 2014, she scored a career-high 48 points against the Atlanta Dream, marking the fourth-highest scoring performance in league history. Moore also dominated at UConn, leading the Huskies to two consecutive undefeated seasons and national titles (2009 and 2010).
2008 USA Men’s National Team: Nicknamed The Redeem Team, Team USA rose back to prominence during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. They went 8-0 In Beijing, and captured the gold medal in a 118-107 win over Spain. The enshrinement of The Redeem Team will result in the Pistons’ Tayshaun Prince earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Originally Published: September 5, 2025 at 7:12 AM EDT